Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie''s plot.
I had been wanting to see this movie for a while and could find no one that wanted to see it in the theater with me. I’m not a huge fan of Keanu Reeves, but I just love Sandra Bullock so this movie was not to be missed. I rented from Blockbuster and a friend ended up watching it with me. The concept was different and the acting, by both main characters was pretty good.
Sandra Bullock… Kate
Keanu Reeves… Alex
Christopher Plummer… Simon
Ebon Moss-Bachrach… Henry
Dylan Walsh… Morgan
Shohreh Aghdashloo… Anna
She leaves the house on the water, taking the dog with her and leaving a note in the mailbox on the way to her car. Seasons change and a truck arrives at the house.
Dr. Kate Forester is now in a new place. Chicago Memorial hospital is a busy place compared to the sleepy community hospital she completed her residency at. Meanwhile, Alex, the new homeowner/architect gets busy fixing up the old house. And also finds the letter she left behind.
Dear new tenant, welcome to your new home. I'm sure you'll love living here as much as I did.…Kate
What do you mean lived here?…Alex
Since no one has lived in this house for years.…Kate
Kate decides to go back to the old house on her day off…it would seem that the busy Chicago life just isn’t the same. But she finds the house still standing empty. How can that be? And there is a letter in the mailbox. She leaves a reply. Alex gets the letter and doesn’t quite believe her when she tells him it’s the year 2006. He insists its 2004.
Ridiculous. For argument's sake, what day is it there?…Kate
April 14th, 2004.…Alex
No. It's April 14th, 2006.…Kate
It's the same day two years apart.…Alex
Meanwhile, Alex has issues of his own. He goes into the city to see his brother Henry, whom works for his dad’s company. His father doesn’t even acknowledge him as he departs from his office building. While in the city, he stops at 1620 Racine where Kate supposedly lives in an apartment building, but the building has not yet been built. He writes her back, telling her what he found. But he seems to still not believe what is going on.
She writes him back again, sending him a scarf this time. Apparently there is a freak snowstorm on its way. But again he doesn’t believe her…until he turns around to look out of his window and watches the snow fall outside. So these two unlikely souls continue to correspond about themselves and the things going on. He takes her on a “tour” of the city to show her all of his favorite buildings. We also discover that Alex’s dad was the one who had built the house, especially for his wife, who later passed away.
He could build a house. But he couldn't build a home.…Alex
Would it be possible for these two, who seem to be becoming to like each other, ever to meet considering they are living two years apart?
The Lake House was much more than what I expected. I was expecting it to be good, thanks to the two main actors, but I wasn’t expecting to be totally drawn into the story. I was skeptical, because of the subject matter. But not even halfway through the movie, I was definitely drawn in. The only thing that I can say that I didn’t enjoy was the few plot holes scattered throughout the movie. And did I mention predictability yet? I’ve heard complaints about the plot, but this is not one of those movies where things get left unexplained. If you pay attention during the movie, nothing is left to wonder about.
One thing that I really enjoyed about this movie was Bullock’s character. She is an independent, attractive, and successful individual that has everything going for her. She has a great job, a good apartment, and a cute little dog…but she is emotionally unfulfilled despite her professional fulfillment. Reeves is not what I would call a very emotional actor; he just seems so wooden sometimes. But his manners seem to fit his character. He is a professional and successful businessperson, but his private life with his family and bachelorhood seem to make his manners fit his character.
The two main character picks were dead on. Bullock and Reeves are finally paired up again for the first time since Speed was released in 1994. In my opinion, it’s been too many years since these two worked together. Despite many people not liking Reeves, I enjoy these two together and think they have a certain undeniable chemistry.
The Lake House is nothing overly spectacular and even quite unbelievable, unless you suspend your disbelief for a few hours, because of the time travel and subject matter, but it’s good. How could two people, living two years apart, fall in love and actually feel like they are the only two people on the earth and no one else matters? It works because it was written and acted well. It works because the two main characters are professional, attractive, and intelligent individuals who initially do not want to believe the situation either. If the two had jumped right into it, the story would have been really boring and definitely unbelievable. But they didn’t, so it made the story more believable because they didn’t believe along with the viewers.
The Lake House was nominated for two Teen Choice Awards and won one for “Choice Liplock”. Not sure why because there were probably better “liplocks” in other movies, but oh well. Another aspect of the movie that I enjoyed was the cinematography. Every picture of the house on the water, and then with the snow was just beautiful. They even managed to make Chicago more appealing to look at than what I remember it being. Visual eye candy helps set the romantic mood between the two characters.
The DVD contained a few extras, including: Previews (We Are Marshall and Take the Lead), a scene selection, Special Features (additional scenes and outtakes, theatrical trailer), subtitles (English, French, and Spanish), and a Language Selection (English 5.1, French 5.1, and Spanish 5.1).
Despite the totally unbelievable subject matter, I enjoyed The Lake House because of the actors ability to make the movie believable. I don’t know if it would have been possible if the actors did not portray the characters as well as they did. The two believed their love for each other, they believed they would somehow meet someday…which made me believe they would. No matter what would have happened at the end, I still would have enjoyed the movie just as much either way. So go ahead, suspend your disbelief for a few hours and go watch this movie. Go!
Genre: Release Date: June 2006
Director: Alejandro Agresti
Writer: Eun-Jeong Kim and Ji-Na Yeo
Running Time: 98 minutes
Rated: PG
A lonely doctor (Sandra Bullock) who once occupied an unusual lakeside home begins exchanging love letters with its newest resident, a frustrated arch...More at HotMovieSale.com
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