At least 'The Last Song' was a good one.

Rating: 8/10 (22 May 2010)

'The Last Song' (based on the eponymous novel by 'The Notebook' scribe Nicholas Sparks) appears to have received much criticism for various aspects of its running time, many of which I can respect, however it strikes me as vicious that viewers are focusing on Miley Cyrus' likability as if it were the overall staple. For a single, external aspect to polarise the audience in such a manner is extremely unforgiving to the bigger picture, and therefore I'll address the Miley factor in a neutral manner. In a leading role separating her from alter ego Hannah Montana, Miley proves she is a blossoming young actress who just needs a few more opportunities like 'The Last Song' in order to find her feet out of a Disney character's shoes. In my opinion her main fault is to play Ronnie, a troubled and troublesome teenager, with a hanging lower lip and fixed gaze for much of the first act, failing to explore why her character is broken. This issue is short-lived however, and Miley plays a happier Ronnie later in the film to a stronger degree, benefiting from her arcing character which should have been developed sooner. In my opinion, the script is at fault for striving to depict Ronnie's demeanour through conventional methods such as bratty behaviour and cocky dialogue. Some may take issue with the watered- down characters (particularly readers of the book) but this is a difficult problem for any screenplay when adapting from the written format.
Besides the sole draw of superstar Cyrus, 'The Last Song' tells a touching story about love, life, family and friendship through Ronnie's connection with her estranged father (a suitably cast Greg Kinnear) and the local heartthrob Will, played by Liam Hemsworth who, like Cyrus, should be credited with rising to the part. The comic relief in Jonah, Ronnie's younger brother, is adapted well by an enthusiastic Bobby Coleman who adds some necessary character to a number of scenes, including the overdone shopping spree montage (which in this instant, he saves). Of course the film generally serves itself as a mechanism driving itself towards its inevitable heartfelt ending, although when the time comes the subject matter is dealt with beautifully, the film remaining uplifting as the credits roll to the inspirational 'When I Look At You'. In my opinion it is moments like these which clarify film's success as a thought-provoking reflection of how we might treat our relationships with significant others; while the novel and its author can be credited with crafting this, the medium of film highlights the concept of fragility for all to see rather than interpret.
'The Last Song' isn't necessarily exciting or remarkable cinema. What it is, however, is a pleasant and gentle piece that touches on the delicate aspects of life that every one of us can relate to.