Romantic, But --

Rating: 7/10 (22 May 2004)

I haven't read the Sparks novel, but this was clearly a fictional story -- romantic and a sentimental tearjerker (an old man to my right couldn't stop crying through much of it) complete with flights of white geese and swelling orchestra music in key moments. A great subject for consumption by the aging baby boomer population as it tries to sentimentalize aging with Alzheimers'. A great wish-fulfillment story that had the phrase, "Yeah, Right!" running banner headlines through my mind through most of the final hour of it. This is not a bad film to see if you enjoy Disney-movie style happy endings though. The cinematography, script, etc all look like a major release picture and the younger stars are quite captivating and convincing. The acting by James Garner and Gena Rowlands however left something to be desired.
Update in 2020
Well, well. Many years have passed since I first wrote this review and I have now witnessed firsthand Alzheimer's on a loved one. I now, unfortunately, have much more empathy and insight as to why the man to my right cried so much while watching this.