Was This a Made for Lifetime Movie?

Rating: 4/10 (31 March 2006)

This is a beautifully photographed film, however I don't feel that that's enough to recommend this movie. It feels like a made-for-Lifetime movie, meant only to tug at your heartstrings. The story is thin and predictable (I knew who the older couple were from the first scene). And indeed, the plot is not very unique. (The same thing happened to my mother: she fell in love with -gasp- a Jewish man, was sent off to boarding school, her mother stole the letters from the young man, etc, etc. But she didn't reconnect with the "love of her life" until she was sixty years old.) The movie does portray young passion quite well, and with a modicum of humor, but it's not very interesting. Unfortunately, the movie is littered with anachronisms. For a much more interesting story, buy "Fried Green Tomatoes" instead.
I originally rented this movie because I love Gena Rowlands and, although her performance is stunning, she doesn't have much screen time. The young leads (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) are believable, but not stellar. The best scene in the movie is when Allie's mother takes her for a drive and tells her about her first love.
BTW, (with apologies to Mr Zigman) some of the score has been stolen. During the scene where Allie discovers the painting supplies, the underscore is playing the theme from the movie "Making Love"!
For the best movie EVER about relationships, buy "Two for the Road".