The Best of Me Reviews

I wasn’t expecting much from this flick but since my wife has a weak spot for ‘The Notebook’ and since this other Nicholas Sparks adaptation was available on Netflix, I thought we might as well check it out. By now, somehow, I have seen almost all the movies adapted from Sparks’s novel and, to be honest, this one was not bad at all. It did help that the plot was really similar to ‘The Notebook’ (the fact that James Maarssen played in both movies made the similarity even more obvious). There was one thing that really bothered me though. Indeed in my opinion, the two couples made of Michelle Monaghan/James Marsden and Liana Liberato/Luke Bracey didn’t look at all like another. Luke Bracey especially seemed to be miscast as he seemed much older than Liberato and he didn’t seem at all to be 20 years younger than Marsden. I think it would have been so much more efficient to have some actors in their mid 20s (which was actually the case for Bracey), have them play both parts and simply make them look younger in the flashback and older in the present time. Coming back to the story itself, to be honest, the ending was rather unfair and cruel for the characters and I think it was added there just to make the whole thing deviate more from ‘The Notebook’. Anyway, to conclude, I think my rating was probably too generous here but I have to admit that it was fairly entertaining and I think it might be worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

The trailer of The Best of Me received relatively strong criticism since the day it was released. As an avid reader of Sparks' books I couldn't hold myself from watching the official adaptation of The Best of Me. I will make it clear that The Best of Me is a contrived romantic drama which offers nothing special. It is yet another white poor guy meets a rich girl with biased father drama.

It will not be wrong to state that we have seen this before in The Notebook. But, this time it is so close that you will be surprised to see how Sparks is ripping himself off. The movie seems so artificial that at a certain point the fake drama galore and unnecessary stereotyping seem monotonous and dreary. Michael Hoffman gives his best but still the end product is an excessively exaggerated drama which doesn't transcend a certain level.

Michael Hoffman disappoints this time. His grasp over emotional sequences seemed lackluster in this adaptation. He also failed to demonstrate a lively on screen chemistry amid Sandra and Dawson, the lead protagonists. Their on screen chemistry is a perfect example of contrived romantic schmaltz. The Best of Me left is plagued by a tacky concept and awful execution.

On the acting front, Liana Liberato and Luke Bracey act in an unrealistic way as younger versions of Amanda and Dawson. They completely fail to realistically play the passion that the story demands. Their relationship doesn't rise above teenage hormones. Seriously, does it even sell now? The teenage on screen depiction of Amanda and Dawson was so numb that fine actors like Michelle Monaghan and James Marsden, as older Amanda and Dawson, couldn't bring the movie to a level that one desired. James Marsden gives a fine performance. Marsden can radiate a cornucopia of feelings from his expressions only. He is a very fine actor. Michelle Monaghan portrays herself as Amanda in a scintillating way. Her performance was full of passion but still not at par with her previous works.

It is Gerald McRaney who gives a winning performance as Tuck. He proved it once again that he is a venerable actor. McRaney's role in The Best of Me is essential to the plot of movie, but not a memorable one though.

Overall, it is a poorly handled movie with convoluted narrative and meandering plot. But, in a film dragging close to two hours and making you feel each minute, The Best of Me ends up being a lot of oversight with barely any insight.

Skip it if you can! Watch it if you are a die-hard fan of Nicholas Sparks. It won't harm you either.

Box Office

Budget: $26,000,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend: $10,003,827 (USA) (17 October 2014)
Gross: $26,761,283 (USA) (9 January 2015)

Storyline

Amanda and Dawson are soul mates who met as teens and were from different backgrounds. But circumstances would force them to part ways. 20 years later they are brought back together by the passing of a mutual friend. So they go back home to fulfill his final wishes and they run into each other. While Amanda is married, albeit unhappily, she still has feelings for Dawson but can't forgive him for pushing her away.

What a touching, cute love story filled with deep emotions. The characters are very relatable, and the audience feels their emotions as if they are real.

Okay I'm not going to lie. I actually really enjoy these Nicholas Sparks movies and I'm not afraid to admit it. It doesn't mean anything. I just enjoy an interesting yet tragic story of loss and romance. Besides this one has some pretty great seasoned actors. I'm a little confused by the fact that he survived not only the blast from the explosion, but apparently he also survived for four hours in the water. Was he still conscious? Was he above the water because from what we saw he went below the surface? If he did go underwater how did he not drown after 4 hours of having water in his lungs which I'm sure cannot be changed at that point? Is Luke Bracey supposed to be young college age guy or what because he looks about 30 years old here. At least it is acknowledged how odd it is that he survived in the water for so long. Despite the cheesiness, plot holes, and predictable ending I did find myself enjoying this one. I think the acting was pretty good. The chemistry between the younger versions was much fuller and better than when they meet again as adults. Dawson's father looked like he thought he was in the old west which was kind of funny. I think it was a bit rushed in some parts. Anyways it could have been better, but it was still watchable.