Review of The Best of Me

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.