Summary
Romantic drama starring James Marsden and Michelle Monaghan. Former high school sweethearts Amanda and Dawson meet again after 20 years only to find that the old spark is still there.
Romantic drama starring James Marsden and Michelle Monaghan. Former high school sweethearts Amanda and Dawson meet again after 20 years only to find that the old spark is still there.
This adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel follows the reunion of two childhood sweethearts (James Marsden and Michelle Monaghan) at a friend's funeral. Through flashbacks we see the events of the past that tore them apart. The film follows the Sparks-adaptation formula (forbidden love, small town drama, dying father figure) as it heads off in ludicrous directions. As the plot takes its third or fourth twist, it's clear that the script's only intention is to make as sad a film as possible, plausibility be damned. Matters aren't helped by Marsden and Monaghan, who have none of the chemistry of their younger screen selves, Luke Bracey and Liana Liberato, and instead spend much of the film looking sad and resentful. Cynical and lazy, The Best of Me feels as if it's assembled from parts of other better weepies.
role | name |
---|---|
Dawson Cole | James Marsden |
Amanda Collier | Michelle Monaghan |
Young Amanda | Liana Liberato |
Young Dawson | Luke Bracey |
Tuck | Gerald McRaney |
Harvey Collier | Jon Tenney |
April | Schuyler Fisk |
Frank Reynolds | Sebatian Arcelus |
Jared | Ian Nelson |
role | name |
---|---|
Director | Michael Hoffman |