I always try to go into any movie with as few preconceived notions as
possible. Though this is sometimes a nearly impossible feat, I still
try to keep my mind open even when the subject matter or genre may not
be at the top of my list. Having said that, there are plenty of films
that I initially shun only to discover later how delightful they
really are- again reinforcing the old "don't judge a book by its
cover" adage. Yet, sometimes even my most sincere leap of faith simply
doesn't pay off, and I am sad to report that THE CHOICE falls into
this latter category. While I can most definitely say that there will
be legions of ladies who will disagree with my assessment, who will
swoon at the declarations of love, who will ooh and ahh on girls'
movie night, who will declare the leading man the hottest new sex
symbol, I will still be over on the other side judging the film on its
merits and not its romanticism.
Based on the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, THE CHOICE is
your basic, paint-by-numbers love story. Boy (Travis) meets girl
(Gabby), they hate each other initially, they find something in
common, they fall madly in love and may or may not live happily ever
after. In this rendition, however, there is barely one iota of the
usual turmoil or challenge to the blossoming romance- unless you count
Gabby's pesky relationship with the young, successful, and handsome
doctor that gets dismissed way too easily in the second act. Within a
few weeks of meeting (while her boyfriend is conveniently out of
town), Travis and Gabby are already practically shacked up, sharing
special family dinners, telling deep dark secrets, and spouting one
liners that just might become a tag line by the story's end. Even in
the midst of such a whirlwind, there is just nothing super-compelling
about their romance. There just isn't.
I am usually an ace at suspending disbelief, but everything in this
world is so strangely perfect to the point of distraction. Gabby is a
young doctor (who comes from money) with a bright future. Travis is
the handsome, roguish young veterinarian in their picturesque town.
Gorgeous scorned lovers become confidantes. There is an actual basket
of puppies, and almost every line of dialogue sounds like a
motivational saying or advice from Chicken Soup For The Soul. I can
accept a good amount of fluff, but without any real investment in
these characters' stories, that's all there really is. By the third
act when some inevitable drama does finally strike, I kinda felt sad
that I didn't care more about these characters perfect lives or the
outcome.
Now that I got that off my chest, I will admit that THE CHOICE isn't
all doom and gloom, and I would be remiss not to mention the bright
spots. There are some legit humorous or quirky moments that made me
grin. The ensemble cast really play well off one another, and I
totally dug much of screenwriter Bryan Sipes clever banter in the
lighter moments. Benjamin Walker is incredibly charming as Travis. For
me, he is the glue that holds the whole picture together. Walker's
sincere performance as the lethario turned love struck paramour lends
the film just enough gravity to prevent it from being the total
disaster it otherwise may have been. It also doesn't hurt that Walker
is easy on the eyes and bursting with charisma. I also really enjoyed
the dynamic between Travis and his sister Stephanie (the lovely Maggie
Grace), whose support and watchful eye also helps to make the story
feel a bit more realistic. Tom Wilkinson as Travis' father/veterinary
partner can do no wrong. Even when placed in one of the most
eye-rolling, you-gotta-be-kidding-me scenes, Wilkinson's talent saves
the whole sequence from being utterly embarrassing. Though terribly
underused in the film, Tom Welling also turns in a solid and
understated performance as Gabby's Doctor boyfriend. I really wanted
to see Welling's Dr. McCarthy and Travis duke it out- or at least have
a confrontation-but, alas even his showdown with Gabby was relegated
to a mere footnote in a later scene, and I'll have to wait until next
time to see Welling's talents on better display. Sigh.
I will hand it to director Ross Katz for doing a commendable job
capturing the coastal North Carolina of Spark's novel. Every gorgeous
frame exudes the island feel that sets the tone for the romantic tale,
and such beautiful imagery certainly helps with the overall takeaway
from the film. Despite these positives, however, THE CHOICE just
didn't make my sentimental side swoon as much as I had hoped. If you
are a hopeless romantic, this film is for you, and I have no doubt
that ladies will flock to the theaters to check out this latest dreamy
love story just in time for Valentine's Day. If you are the least bit
cynical about this sort of whimsical fare, however, you'd best make a
different choice.
Rebecca Elliott, aka Annette Kellerman
