Well isn’t this a surprise. Not that I’m back writing – that was bound to happen eventually, and I had a feeling it would be sooner rather than later considering how many more reviews I’ve started but not finished since publishing My Inactivity Explained. In fact, maybe another editorial is called for. Still, one step at a time Dean. Let’s get this done while the words are flowing.

No, the surprise is the movie that’s brought me back to Epinions, and the rating I’m giving it. Over the past six or seven months (has it really been that long?), I’ve seen countless movies and added plenty of music to my collection – who would’ve guessed a chick flick would be the movie that got me through an entire review again?

The Lake House is the story of Kate (Sandra Bullock) and Alex (Keanu Reeves). In 2006, Kate moves out of her Lake House and leaves a note in the mailbox for the next tenant. In 2004, Alex moves into the same Lake House, and through some strange twist of fate, picks up Kate’s note – a note she won’t actually write for another two years. Over the next couple of letters, Kate and Alex realise they’re living two years apart and are yet somehow able to correspond with each other. As is slightly predictable for a chick flick, they slowly find themselves drawn to each other, but getting together proves to be somewhat difficult.

The Lake House seems to pose two questions, but only answers one. Firstly, how is it possible that the two are writing back and forth?, and secondly, how will they get together? Personally, I don’t think you’re going to be able to enjoy this movie if you focus on the first question, desparate for an answer. The crux of the matter is that it’s not important how they’re doing, just that they are.

Of course, there’s a couple of sub-plots, but if you miss the odd detail of these here and there you’re not missing that much. They largely exist to set up key details for the main plot, so as long as you’re paying attention at the right times, these plots are mainly forgettable. It’s just a case of not worrying why she’s there, but take note because it’s important that she is there, that sort of thing.

With sub-plots, you tend to get the supporting characters. You’ve got people like Kate’s mother (who for some odd reason appears to be from a Latin America country) and her former boyfriend. On Alex’s side there’s his brother, his father, and a girl who everyone around him seems to think is his girlfriend. In the grand scheme of the film, none of these characters are all that important, and as such are given very little screen time. However, occasionally one of them will give away a detail that’s quite important, but you’ll spot these easily enough.

In fact, one could say that The Lake House is a tad predictable. That could be true. There are indeed a few things you’ll spot coming a few scenes before they actually arrive. However, in the case of this movie, I don’t necessarily think this is a bad thing. I wasn’t so much thinking "I saw that coming", as I was "Ah, how are they going to deal with that?". It was as if the predictability added some suspense, which is quite a neat trick really.

Speaking of neat tricks, how exactly do you give your two lead actors chemistry when they don’t technically have any scenes together for the majority of the movie? Well, in some places it’s in the wording of the letters. Some letters are only a sentence or two long, and we as the audience hear the reply and counter-reply straight away, as if Kate and Alex were having a real conversation. In other places, it’s down to the actors. Bullock proves herself to still be one of the best dramatic actresses around, and Reeves certainly manages to hold his own with this script. Alex may not outwardly emote very often, but Reeves has other subtle tactics to show us what Alex is feeling, and when he does outwardly emote, he does so very well.

But I have to say, one of things I liked most about The Lake House didn’t come until right at the ending. In fact, it was the way the film ended. The screen went to black and the credits started rolling at the perfect place, which left me with a sense of closure, without things being too overdone and dramatising the story far past the level at which it needed to be.

The Lake House is easily the best chick flick I’ve seen in recent (and possibly distant) memory. Reeves and Bullock are great- together and apart, and the story is both interesting and intriguing enough to hold the viewer. It’s not at all cheesy, and instead of trying to avoid the predictably trap a lot of other chick flicks fall into, The Lake House walks smack dab into it and makes it work. All in all, it’s a fine effort that fans of the genre will love, and even those who aren’t fans will probably be able to tolerate it.

Recommended:
Yes