WAY above most teen movies-- Authentic, sweet, and very real!

Rating: 10/10 (30 January 2002)

Great for what it is, and what it sets out to portray. "A Walk to Remember" is a well made, thoughtful movie. It is dramatic in a manner one might think is aimed at adolescents. But what makes it appealing to adults as well as kids is the "truth" of the drama. That is, unlike many teen movies that seem to capitalize on the angst-y, overblown melodrama and theatrical nature of teenaged fantasy, "A Walk" touches on very real and important (albeit sometimes very quiet) issues that everyone deals with throughout their life.
"A Walk" is also very sweet, but avoids sentimentality. Overall, it is a very authentic and meaningful depiction of some of the big issues facing us all: Our choices, self and social identities, and having a vision of who we want to become, and how we go about becoming that. Perhaps this is a bigger issue to one who is 16 or 18 or 19 years old, but it certainly reappears over and over to some degree or other throughout our life span.
The performances were especially great. Peter Coyote is a strong, skilled, and delightful presence. Daryl Hannah (Sp?) is unrecognizable as a brunette, so we get to experience a wonderful aspect of her character-- which is totally on-target and deep here-- without being distracted by her glamor and stardom. I was enjoying her as the mom for the first 2/3 of the movie, wondering to myself, "Where have I seen this amazing actress before?" before it dawned on me that it was she. Good job to both of them!
Mandy Moore was grand, avoiding all cliche of the "ugly duckling" female character we have seen so many times before. The male adolescent lead, Whats-his-name, at first struck me as a bit young Charlie Sheen-ish, and therefore a tiny bit of a rip off. But upon reflection I saw his portrayal as 100% appropriate. After all, isn't this what 17 or 18 year-old boys are like in real life? Especially the confident and popular ones? You know, a bit of posturing, a bit of performance, a bit of bravado, and a bit of uncertainty and fear. And yet in the end, the better ones are capable of change, capable of personal breakthroughs and transformations for the better.
Overall, an excellent movie! I gave it a 10 out of 10.