Review by Doug Cooper
Stars Miley Cyrus, Greg Kinnear, Liam Hemsworth, Bobby Coleman, Hallock Beals, Kelly Preston, Nick Lashaway, Carly Chaikin, Kate Vernon, Melissa Ordway, Nick Searcy
Written by Nicholas Sparks & Jeff Van Wie
Certification UK PG | US PG
Runtime 107 minutes
Directed by Julie Ann Robinson
This tearjerker sees tween sensation Miley Cyrus branch out into more dramatic terrain, and it doesn't utilise her singing abilities. Does she have true acting chops then? Well, this role isn't too much of a stretch for her, but she's up to the task – she does, however, lack the appeal of an Amanda Seyfried say.
Cyrus plays truculent Ronnie, angry at her father (Kinnear) who walked out on the family and grumpy and uncommunicative at the prospect of staying at his beach home with him over the summer holidays. She's accompanied by her younger brother (Coleman) and the relationship between father and daughter is decidedly strained at first. A gifted pianist who has turned down an offer to study at prestigious Juilliard, she is also a vegetarian with a keen love for animals. She is determined to protect the eggs of some sea turtles nearby and slowly falls for voluntary environmentalist Will (Hemsworth), who accidentally knocked her down when playing volleyball on the beach the first time they met. He comes from a wealthy family with a dark tragedy, and his parents don't warm to her more free spirited manner. Her feelings thaw towards her father though as she falls in love with Will and when it transpires that her dad is ill, it makes her re-evaluate her life.
This follows the same template as Dear John, also adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel (here he shares screenwriting duties too), and although that's hardly a classic it's still a damn sight better than this sorry, soporific affair. The plot dynamics are telegraphed well in advance and it's coated with a plastic sentimentality that never makes one care, always seeming to force the emotions. Miley goes from being temperamental and stubborn to doe eyed romanticism at the flick of her hair while Hemswoth is suitably bland and sexless as her beau, proudly bearing his torso at every conceivable opportunity. Only Kinnear is worth watching. This excellent actor is always underrated and never gives up a film as lost. He's very good as the suffering pa, making his scenes count. Please someone, give him a project worthy of his talents. It's tragic to see him wasted in dreck like this.
Teenage girls however will lap it up.