A Casa do Lago

A glass house built on stilts over a lake near Chicago helps bring together a condo-developer and a kissless female doctor who has just begun practicing at her first big-city hospital. The trouble between them is, he's writing to her from 2004 and she's in present day 2006, and their link is a mailbox with a sense of time all its own. Superfluous-seeming romantic drama with an initially-perplexing story conceit actually works better than you might think (thanks to some sharp writing and handling, and nicely underplayed lead performances by Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock). Some of the plot elements don't bear close scrutiny (it might drive you mad to examine the details), yet fantasy films are governed by their own set of rules, and this one plays fair within its narrative structure, although it does keep the architect waiting an awfully long time just to get the girl. *** from ****

This is a touching, well-acted, and beautiful looking film. Sandra Bullock and Keannu Reeves have great chemistry together and the supporting actors are very competent. The story is absorbing and interesting, and although its a time-travel fantasy, it's logical within it's basic premise.

Don't listen to the people who claim bad acting. The acting is fine and the chemistry between the leads is very real. Anyone who gave this movie a bad rating was definitely in the minority in their theater - most people at the showing I attended clapped and cheered at the end and many stayed to watch the credits roll - always a sign of a good, and touching, movie.

As for those people who claim that the story is "implausible".... they're probably the same people who think that silly IMPOSSIBLE fantasies like X-Men, King-Kong, Lord of the Rings, Spiderman, etc, etc were great movies. At least the characters and events in Lake House are believable, once the basic premise is accepted. Can't say that about drivel like X-Men.

See this film with someone you love. You'll both like this film.

I was excited by the premise but worried about it being a remake. There are some major plot holes but the movie's just so darn good that you don't mind. This was the most romantic movie I've seen in a long time - and that includes the torture of waiting for these two to meet! I wish that I could tell you more but you've got to see it yourself. Keanu Reeves is terrific, no flash back to "Bill" or "Neo" as you might sometimes see from him in other movies. Just a great performance. I really enjoyed Sandra Bullock and they have great chemistry - they'd have to otherwise the premise wouldn't have worked.

So, turn off your brain, take your main squeeze and prepare to loose yourself in the moment. I know you can do it if you try. Besides, we get real life every day. What's two hours of romantic fantasy going to hurt you?

I saw a screening of this last night and maybe I was just in the right mood for it, but I really enjoyed it. I'm not even a chick-flick kind of girl! It's best if you don't over-analyze the time-travel details and just go with it... it's a movie, after all. Seriously, I wasn't expecting that much and I got a better feeling from this movie than I have in a long time - it made me feel warm and happy. Plus, the whole theater laughed at some parts, plus people gasped and cried, and at the end everyone applauded. That's a good sign, if you ask me. I don't watch previews so I don't know what they give away about the plot, so I'm not going to give much of anything away here. I will just say that to me this was a uniquely told romantic story. I happen to like Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, although they are by no means favorites of mine, nor do I consider them to be consistently amazing actors (more often they're not... at least he's not...). But they made this story work for me and I believe they have good chemistry. The movie is set in Chicago and shows the city off nicely without trying to beat you over the head with it (a la The Break-Up). One thing I think I related to a lot with these characters is that they are both pretty isolated and lonely, although not in a sad-sack way. I felt a longing from them for someone to relate to, and even though they have opportunities for other people to be involved in their lives... well it's not what's best for them and they don't settle. Plus, the actors are both in their 40s and I like seeing love stories that aren't about either two 22-year-olds or a 40-year-old man and a 22-year-old girl.

I saw this film on June 12th, 2006 at a preview showing in my home town of Austin, Texas. Admittedly, when I first viewed the trailer it appeared to be nothing more than a cheap romantic flick with a hunk (Keanu Reeves) and a pretty girl (Sandra Bullock). After watching this film, I realized first impressions can sometimes be wrong.

The plot may be a bit out of the ordinary. But if you suspend logic for an hour or two and believe in the magic of the story, it will draw you into a deeply passionate story. There are some twists that may or may not surprise (especially if you're as quick as my wife).

Although Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock have had some iffy acting performances in the past, both put in excellent performances that made their characters come alive. Each characters has a very earthy feel that makes them seem real and relatable.

Overall, I have to say this is a beautiful movie, from the story to the acting to the beautiful cinematography.