Prepare for an ugly cry!

Rating: 9/10 (5 February 2018)

A Walk to Remember is a love story about two teenagers, Landon (Shane West) and Jamie (Mandy Moore). The film starts out pretty typical, Landon is a bad boy who has known Jamie, a mousy, wholesome girl, his whole life, but never took the time to notice her...until he does. Landon gets into some trouble and part of his punishment is being part of the school play, where he gets to see Jamie in in a different light. When they both finally realize they love each other, Jamie tells Landon that she's dying. They have a perfect summer together and Jamie dies. As much as this film is exactly like every other tragic teen romance, it's special somehow. It might be the chemistry that West and Moore have, or the purity of their first love status, but this movie strikes a chord with viewers of all ages.
The theme of this film is love and loss. It's a universal theme, that's why it is so easy to relate to. Anyone that has lost someone they love to cancer knows this isn't an accurate depiction of what the end looks like, but as long as you don't bring your cynicism, we all can admit this is a preferable version. Using several montages to pass time in this film was clever, to connect the audience to the characters emotions. Part of the charm of this movie was how easy it was to love the characters. Everyone watching can remember what that first, all consuming love felt like.
There's a theme of self-discovery within this film. Landon doesn't really know who he is until he's with Jamie. He learns that he's capable of loving someone more than himself and that's an important gift. He heals relationships with his parents and friends, through the tragic ordeal he goes through with Jamie. Like "The Notebook" and other Nicholas Sparks novel turned films, lessons about love and life are learned through loss. Overall, I would recommend this film. Go into it knowing that you're likely going to ugly cry and then be ashamed of it, but that it's definitely worth it.