So-so film

Rating: Null/10 (1 July 2004)

I did not read the novel; if so, then, perhaps, my comments would be more positive. ***POSSIBLE SPOILERS*** Ryan Gosling as Noah was great, but his lying on the pavement, that is, the street, and his hanging with one hand from the ferris wheel were too outlandish. The house transformation was totally unreal: nothing could be salvaged from that wreck. Rachel McAdams (Allie) was all right, annoying at times. Why didn't her nylon stockings have seams? Her father appeared clownish. "Lon" was on a Lifetime presentation which portrayed him as evil so I could not see him in any other way.
My biggest problem is with the casting of James Garner and of Gena Rowlands, both excellent actors. In this film, however, they were not the characters. They were James Garner and Gena Rowlands. Some unknowns would have been better in these roles.
What was wrong with Edmond? Did the novel reveal his problem? He looked strange in the glimpse we got of him.
Too much time was given to their youth, and the rest just was not developed. I realize time constraints. Why was all that time given to that street scene? The Walt Whitman allusions seemed trite, too easy as a connection. Was the renovated house the nursing home? And when she fed the ducks, why did they not overpower her and Noah?
To the writer who questioned salons in nursing homes: many places do have beauty shoppes within for the residents' use.
An okay film.