The Notebook (2004)
My best friend has a hilarious sentiment about the film The Notebook. Hailed as the modern generation’s Love Story, it was universally beloved by teen girls and boys alike. Everyone thought Noah and Allie shared the greatest romance of all time – or did they? As my pal says when she learns a new acquaintance loves the movie, “I have no further use for you in my life.” She and I didn’t like the movie and didn’t find it romantic, so if you’ve been pretending to love it, come on out and share your real feelings. You’re not alone!
James Garner is delightful and heartbreaking, the only saving grace of the film. If the young leads were eliminated, and Jimmy and Gena Rowlands (and how cute is it that her son Nick Cassavetes directed the film?) took up all the screen time, it would have been sweet and touching. But how can I get immersed in a lousy romance with no redeeming qualities, that merely serves to reinforce the old adage “Listen to your parents”? Wealthy Rachel McAdams falls for a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, and her mother Joan Allen cautions her against it. As another option, she’s presented with James Marsden. He’s rich, classy, kind, loves her, and literally couldn’t be more handsome. But Rachel shrugs her shoulders and runs back to the poor, low class, bearded, grungy, unhygienic Ryan Gosling – and we’re supposed to swoon when they kiss in the rain? Their reunion scene literally turns my stomach; and when she asks the afterglow question, “That’s what I’ve been missing?” it’s incredibly unrealistic.
I realize my friend and I are in the vast minority, but just in case you’ve been pretending to like the movie for nearly twenty years, you don’t have to anymore. It’s alright to think the only good scene of the movie comes at the end, and it’s normal to think Rachel needs to have her head examined if she throws James over for Ryan. Just because something is considered a classic, that doesn’t obligate everyone in the world to like it. I also can’t stand Casablanca. Go ahead, throw something at me.
More James Garner movies here!
More Rachel McAdams movies here!
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of Nicholas Sparks's original novel here!
James Garner is delightful and heartbreaking, the only saving grace of the film. If the young leads were eliminated, and Jimmy and Gena Rowlands (and how cute is it that her son Nick Cassavetes directed the film?) took up all the screen time, it would have been sweet and touching. But how can I get immersed in a lousy romance with no redeeming qualities, that merely serves to reinforce the old adage “Listen to your parents”? Wealthy Rachel McAdams falls for a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, and her mother Joan Allen cautions her against it. As another option, she’s presented with James Marsden. He’s rich, classy, kind, loves her, and literally couldn’t be more handsome. But Rachel shrugs her shoulders and runs back to the poor, low class, bearded, grungy, unhygienic Ryan Gosling – and we’re supposed to swoon when they kiss in the rain? Their reunion scene literally turns my stomach; and when she asks the afterglow question, “That’s what I’ve been missing?” it’s incredibly unrealistic.
I realize my friend and I are in the vast minority, but just in case you’ve been pretending to like the movie for nearly twenty years, you don’t have to anymore. It’s alright to think the only good scene of the movie comes at the end, and it’s normal to think Rachel needs to have her head examined if she throws James over for Ryan. Just because something is considered a classic, that doesn’t obligate everyone in the world to like it. I also can’t stand Casablanca. Go ahead, throw something at me.
More James Garner movies here!
More Rachel McAdams movies here!
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of Nicholas Sparks's original novel here!