A Journal for Jordan is a bit of an odd one. I actually did enjoy it, but for some reason can't bring myself to give it more than a 5.
The story at times was a little too jumpy, with some quite unnecessary segues which make the film easily 20 minutes too long.
I liked the chemistry between Chante Adams and Michael B Jordan, it was all acted very well. The actual romantic story between them was perfectly well done. Sometimes quite funny, sometimes frustrating, but always sweet. I think that's the problem maybe. It was all very sweet and safe and didn't particularly convey a burning passion and deep love.
Given the name of the film, I feel like there needed to be a greater emphasis on the mother son relationship and the journal itself. This was somewhat pushed to the side and reserved for the final 15 minutes, when it may have been more emotional to have this at the core of the movie. Without this the film mostly plays out like a conventional romcom which means it loses some of its originality.
There isn't really anything to dislike about this film, but equally nothing to love either. I wanted it to be more emotional than it was, so it gets a 5/10. Middle of the road.
