Actress and now director Julia Stiles offers us a film with all the hallmarks of a melancholic drama, resulting in a well-crafted film that will please its audience without any major demands.
A drama that loses strength in its drama.
The film's opening is quite interesting and captivates the viewer. The well-presented characters, though somewhat corny, are effective, and they draw you into the story within. Once we enter the deeper drama, the film becomes somewhat bland and seeks sentimentality over the excellent work done at the beginning. Its story works; it's commonplace and we've seen it before, but it always brings good returns, and this is no exception. However, the film doesn't quite find its essence once we confront the sadness of the couple's drama. Perhaps it loses the emotion of a rather interesting character whose protagonist is the trigger to somewhat disconnect from all the interesting things we've been experiencing.
Isabelle Fuhrman is everything in the film.
The actress is the mainstay that makes the film work throughout its runtime. A well-chosen and satisfying performance from the actress allows us to grow fond of her character and, at times, identify with her in certain aspects. We find a couple of decent supporting characters and a not-overwhelming, but effective chemistry between the two leads, enough for us to believe this tale of love and the drama they face. The director knows how to make the most of her main star; not in vain, the director has experience in this genre as an actress.
It delivers what it promises.
It's a film that delivers exactly what it promises, no more, no less. If you're a fan of the genre, it'll be a film you'll enjoy, and if you're a more neutral audience, it's a film that will pass the time properly, but won't change your life at all. An interesting debut from the now director, where you can see a subtle flair for this type of film without disappointing in the least in terms of its staging.
Conclusion.
A drama that will make you cry. Excellent acting, excellent direction, and a script that delivers without much effort. For fans of the genre, this will be a pleasant pastime, and, after all, that's who the film is intended for.
