Predictable, sappy (spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (7 September 2004)

South Carolina, 1940: young Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) is a working guy who's willing to put it on the line for the girl he loves, wealthy debutante Allie Nelson (Rachel McAdams). Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, World War II comes and goes and the couple reunite years later. Present day: feisty old man Duke (James Garner) reads aloud this maudlin, predictable love story to delusional and vacant Allie (Gena Rowlands) as though it's some kind of extraordinary mystery. As you can predict, the two couples Â– young and old Â– are one and the same as any four year old could tell you, yet the film makers treat the connection like an alarming emotional revelation.
Alas, the film makers' condescension for the audience doesn't stop there; the film is clumsy and would've seemed terribly sappy even sixty years ago. The young lovers are never developed into credible characters so in lieu of their developing relationship we're treated to a series of improbable, Hallmark Card-pretty make-out scenes, utterly devoid of emotion or sexiness.
McAdams twinkles her alluring, knowing eyes and flashes her dimply smiles but her Allie is about as sexy as a squid. In what's supposed to pass for reckless passion she crushes her mouth against her co-star like she's trying to resuscitate him and wraps her legs around him like a crazed gymnast. At one point, Allie and Noah disrobe revealing their nakedness to one another. But director Cassavettes flinches and sternly depicts the encounter from shoulders up.
To make matters worse, the 1940's milieu is repeatedly shattered by clunky dialogue loaded with anachronistic contemporary vernacular and concerns.
The splendid Gena Rowlands (mother of Director Nick Cassavetes) tries bring some depth to this material but there's simply nothing there for her. Interestingly, James Garner comes off the best. We don't for a moment believe that this jocular, chatty old man is really the aged version of quiet and proud young Noah but at least Garner wears his role effortlessly.
I suppose young people brought up on a culture of vapid video games might find this PG rated romance involving. But if you're looking for a quality romance try renting 'Bridges of Madison County' or have a look at the superb 'Room With A View'.