"Walk To Remember" (2002)

Rating: PG  

Genre: Drama, Romance

Directed By: Adam Shankman

Written By: Karen Janszen

Released: January 25^th, 2002

Runtime: 100 minutes

Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Summary:

Set in North Carolina, "A Walk To Remember" follows the rite of passage of a jaded, aimless high school senior (Shane West) who falls in love with a guileless young woman (Mandy Moore) he and his friends once scorned. The two develop a powerful and inspirational relationship in which they discover truths that take most people a lifetime to learn.

Review:

Well this is a sappy movie if there ever was one… It’s a Nicholas Sparks creation, you get what is advertised – a soppy love story with a bittersweet ending. Don’t sit down without tissues handy. Unless you’re of cynical mindset in which case prepare for some eye rolling. 

I wouldn’t consider this his best love story (that honour will forever go to The Notebook) but it’s pretty high up there. Both characters are likable and fairly strong leads. In ways it’s predictable, again it’s a Nicholas Sparks film and therefore the structure is pretty on que. There are some very cute moments, some so cute they become moderately cringy… Other moments require much suspense of belief to get through the scene but sure…it is what it is. 

One thing I will say is while Mandy Moore and Shane West are nice together as the leads, they do not look like 18 year olds...At least in my opinion. I had seen one of the scenes towards the end of the film a good while ago and had assumed they were older, so to then see them within a secondary school setting was, well, a bit surprising. 

If you love a cheesy tear-jerking romance, this is one to add to the list. If you’re a bit more cynical I’d give it a skip. It’s not a bad film, then again, it’s not a brilliant film either. What you get out of it, really all depends on your mood while watching it.  

TRAILER: