Syrupy, schmaltzy and cliché.....but a great young cast.

Rating: 7/10 (21 January 2005)

***May contain spoilers***
I'm very curious about those viewers giving this film a 10....and I'm also curious about viewers who genuinely cried during this film.
A cynical review would call it a mediocre version of the overdone pretty-girl-dies-a-long-and-sad-death genre like Love Story or Terms of Endearment. The film on one level is absolutely dripping with sentimentality and unrealistically poetic exchanges between the main characters. The cynic in me could not help but roll my eyes at the sheer transparent let's-make-the-audience-cry attempt by the director and screenwriter.
However...I won't trash it completely. Shane West and Mandy Moore are wonderful young actors and they shine in their roles. The DVD features a fun commentary by the director, Moore and West as they giggle and reminisce about shooting the film. And the music soundtrack is great.
Overall, not bad. If you're a 12-year old in the mood for a good cry or if you're an unfashionable Christian who has felt what it's like to be "uncool" (ie: like Mandy Moore's character), this film will delight you.