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Movie Review - The Notebook
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
Nick Cassavetes |
| Starring: |
Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, Gena Rowlands, James Garner, and James Marsden |
| Rated: |
PG-13 (for some sexuality) |
| Length: |
124 minutes |
| Genre: |
Romantic Drama |
| Website: |
The Notebook |
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PLOT
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Noah Calhoun (Gosling) is smitten with Allie Nelson (McAdams) from the moment he sees her. She tries
to resist his advances, but his persistence and charm win her over. The two enjoy a passionate summer
romance, but Allie's decision to attend school in New York, and the impending war threaten to tear them
apart. Seven years pass before they see each other again. Their lives have taken different paths, but
was the love they shared enough to bring them back together? Love, romance, tears, and a movie based on
a novel by Nicholas Sparks ensue.
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JOHNNY'S TAKE
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Great. Juuuuuuust great. All the years of strutting around and acting macho in front of my
friends is about to come crashing down thanks to a 2-hour movie. Mr. Shade, Baker's Dozen, Walker,
Carlson ... I ... I'm sorry. I'm sorry guys, but I liked this movie.
I know many guys will never admit to enjoying a movie like this. I'm pretty sure Johnny Betts circa
1993 would've denied it. Admittedly, there are elements of sappiness that would send the cockiest
of the peacocks running for the hills. There's soft piano. There are sunsets. There are birds flying
in slow motion. There's dancing in the street with no music. And yes, the leads act a little silly at
times.
But come on, what guy hasn't acted silly before when he's in love?
This is pretty standard stuff as far as love stories go. Two kids on the opposite sides of the tracks
fall desperately in love. Life's obstacles split them apart. The wealthy, refined gal meets and
gets engaged to an equally wealthy, refined, dashing young man, while the not-so-wealthy,
gotta-work-for-everything-he's-got guy sets out to prove to the girl that he can make something of
himself. The two cross paths again one day, and the girl must decide who to choose. Sounds a LOT
like "Sweet Home Alabama," except this is a Romantic Drama whereas the former is a Romantic Comedy.
There was even a wainchy mother thrown into the proceedings.
So no, this isn't the most original and unpredictable movie to ever grace the screen. Before the movie
started, I wrote down exactly what I thought was going to happen. You know what? I nailed it. But
here's the important part - that didn't ruin the experience at all. Even though I had a preconceived
idea of how everything would turn out, the story is told in such a way that I was more interested in
*how* we'd get to the conclusion than in whether or not the conclusion would be as expected. However,
there were a couple of times when I had doubts about my theory, and the very end is a little
unexpected.
The real selling point of "The Notebook" is the cast. Everybody does a great job. Ryan Gosling and
Rachel McAdams are really, really good as the leads, and the two of them kept me fully interested in
what I was watching. In a movie world full of pretty boys (you can keep Leonardo DiCaprio), Gosling's
a breath of fresh air as just a regular guy who you can't help but root for. And McAdam's is very
charming as the Southern belle. Easy on the eyes. I really bought into their relationship.
I'll even go so far as to say they displayed the most chemistry in a couple that I've seen in a long time.
Yep, even moreso than Hellboy and Selma Blair. I know, it sure blew me away as
well.
I also liked James Marsden's (aka Cyclops) character. I was hoping he'd be a big jerk thus
making it a no-brainer who McAdams should be with, but he's actually a pretty good guy, and he
doesn't really give you a reason to hate him. And Sam Shepard is very funny as Gosling's father. I
just wish he'd had a little more screen time.
I need to point out that James Garner and Gena Rowlands play big secondary roles. You see, the
story is being told by Garner as he reads it to Rowlands. So the main story is actually a
collection of flashbacks. What is the relationship between Garner and Rowlands? Well, I'm not
gonna spoil anything for you.
Garner and Rowlands do good jobs (although I pray I never have to see Garner in a wife-beater shirt
again), but I was more interested in the relationship between Gosling
and McAdams. In fact, I probably would've given this movie 4 marks, but I was a little disappointed
in the last 10 or 15 minutes. The story completely shifts focus to the older folks, and we never see
the youngsters again. I really would've loved one more flashback, but oh well. Warning: The very
end will probably have a LOT of you reaching for the Kleenex. Pretty touching stuff, but it might
not send you home tapping your toes.
Now if you'll excuse me, I've got something I've gotta go sew back on. After all, I've got a
reputation to protect.
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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I think my mom would really like this movie, but it'd be better for her to watch it when it comes on TV.
Most of the profanity is mild (except for a handful of g-d's). There's no explicit nudity, but there are
a couple of scenes involving couples taking their clothes off, and there's one sex scene (again, no
nudity) that the kids definitely shouldn't be seeing.
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TRAILER COMPARISON
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The trailer is a pretty good representation of what to expect from the movie, but to be perfectly honest,
I'd be careful and try to watch as few trailers as possible. Some of the commercials I've seen give away
too many plot details. There's one detail that James Garner even mentioned on Conan O'Brien that I
would've preferred not knowing until I saw the movie. My advice is to go into the movie knowing as
little about it as possible.
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THE GIST
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"The Notebook" is a character-driven love story. Rather than rely on huge explosions and loads of fighting,
it relies on the outstanding performances of Gosling and McAdams. I can see how this could be pretty
painful stuff for the guy who is capable of little more than grunting and posing, but without question,
it is *the* romantic movie of the year to take your gal to.
Girls, if your guy refuses to see this with you, then go see it with your friends. But guys,
come on, do yourself a favor and make sure your shoulder is there if she needs it. I love action
movies and Adam Sandler comedies as much as the next tough guy, but I'm also not scared to admit when I
enjoy something like this as well.
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