A Warm 'Choice'

The Choice
dir. Ross Katz

         The Choice isn't a perfect movie but it doesn't have to be. Is it clichéd? Sure but what makes it work is the performances and chemistry between all the characters. Plus, the fact that this is the 11th film adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel means that there is bound to be some expectation and similarities with previous incarnations of his work. I think there is even a reference to "The Notebook" with the lead character, Travis mentioning how the previous owners of the house next door, where his future love resides, used to live there and then left to stay in a nursing home. Benjamin Walker's performance as Travis is one of the highlights of the film. He is a leading man in the making. His chemistry with Teresa Palmer's Gabby is outstanding and well-grounded. The supporting cast is good too with some better than average performances by Tom Wilkinson and Tom Welling of "Smallville" fame. That isn't to say though that there aren't some flaws with the finished film. The third act gets a bit muddled and rushed instead of naturally playing out. Plus, The opening scenes practically give away the final act of the film which if you've seen almost every Nicholas Sparks film (like I have), you might be able to piece together on your own what is gonna happen near the end. It also feels like the film had some crucial scenes that were left on the cutting room floor to meet a under two-hour runtime. But even with those flaws, The Choice is still a very warm, funny and emotional film that gives you what you want in a romance. You'll smile, you'll cry and it'll make you think about the choices that we all make and while this film may be corny to some, at least the film and filmmakers treat the audience like mature adults unlike some other films in this genre that I've seen (cough, Fifty Shades, cough). It may not be as good "The Notebook" or "The Longest Ride" but it's still another nice addition to the Nicholas Sparks canon.

Rating: Three Reels out of Five