Preamble
Oh no! I came to this category to review this film and I couldn't believe that three men had reviewed it and zero women had reviewed it. And of course, the men had no appreciation for it. Of course! Like this is a chick-flick through and through. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out boys ;).
What's This Movie About?
Landon Carter (Shane West) is a member of the elite crowd at Beaufort High School - a school in the middle of po-dunk North Carolina. His idea of fun is daring another kid - who wants to be part of the "in" crowd - to do something illegal and highly dangerous. Unfortunately, that dare turns into a ton of punishments for Landon. He is forced to clean up after school along side the janitorial staff, tutor disadvantage students at a sister school, and participate in a cheesy school play.

Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore) is the social outcast daughter of the local church minister (Peter Coyote). Her idea of fun is rather boring to most people - she likes tutoring disadvantaged students, she likes participating in cheesy plays and most importantly, she spends a lot of time practicing her religious faith.

Landon's punishment forces him and Jamie together. Although it's like mixing oil and water at first, soon sparks fly and Jamie teaches him what faith is all about.

Writing and Storyline
This is based on Nicholas Sparks book, A Walk To Remember. If memory serves me, it follows the book pretty closely with the exception of the time period. Screenwriter Karen Janszen did a good job of translating the characters to film.

Admittedly, the story isn't one that is original in nature. Boy/girl meet. Boy/girl fight. Boy/girl fall in love. Boy/girl face difficulties. The end. What really struck me - especially someone who is so anti-religious - is that the plot is written in a way where people won't be offended by the overall message. It's a good message about having faith in something, whether that be another person, yourself, or even God.

Let me warn you that that during the show I attended, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Mine included. I cried like a baby. Girls like to do this you know :).

Acting
Usually, I'm just really skeptical about singers becoming actresses. I think it was Jennifer Lopez that ruined it for me. Oh wait! She did it the other way.... Anyway, because I like Mandy, I was hoping that she would pick a film that wouldn't be too much for her yet, would offer something a little different. In other words, I was hoping that she wouldn't go down the Lance Bass avenue of On The Line.

Mandy Moore's last appearance was in The Princess Diaries as the really witchy and popular teenager. Although that character was pretty much one sided, it was nice to see a mean side to the normally nice-appearing Mandy we see on TRL.

I expected Mandy to be a lot like her on-air persona but she wasn't. Even during the two times in which she performed songs in the film, she was singing in character - a character which was humble and sincere, and a bit shy too.

In this movie, Mandy dies her hair brown and I have to tell you, this is a plus. It makes you forget her pop star persona for a bit.

I understand that Shane West is in the popular television series, Once and Again. I've only seen that show a couple of times (early on) and I don't remember him. Mark my words - Shane has super star written all over him. If he isn't a household name within the next three years, I will be surprized.

Shane is fantastic in a role that would traditionally be played by a Freddie Prinze, Jr. type. What he brought to the character was an element of sympathy that Freddie seems to not have in this acting.

The chemistry between Mandy and Shane is hot and most importantly believable.

Directing
Adam Shankman directing experience is small and it shows. Although he did okay with The Wedding Planner, he had the opportunity to do so much more with this film. I felt like he concentrated so much on directing the main actors that all of the supporting cast (including the always wonderful Daryl Hannah) got the shaft. Their performances weren't lackluster - they just didn't have that usual zing that comes from a director/actor collaboration.

The Music
I thought that the two songs that Mandy sang would actually interfere with the believability of the movie. You know - Mandy Moore the pop singer versus Mandy Moore the actress. The first song does a great job in helping to establish the close ties that Jamie has to her church. The second song - Only Hope - was a turning point in the relationship between her and Landon.

The End
This isn't a movie you'd take your husband or boyfriend to, but it is one to take your girlfriend to. By lots of buttered popcorn, a frozen slushy, and plenty of kleenex.


Recommended:
Yes

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older