The Lake House (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
It's the onscreen chemistry btwn. Sandra Bullock & Keanu Reeves that pulls us in to 'The Lake House', a supernatural chick-flick that is directed by Alejandro Agresti. Kate & Alex (Bullock, Reeves) correspond via a 'magical' mailbox that acts as a portal through time. She's a doctor who lived at the lake house in 2004, he is a struggling architect and lives there in 2006, but they send 'love' letters back & forth to each other simultaneously. But in real time, how can their love (physically & emotionally) survive when they are, literally, 2 years apart? And their discovering & solving this mystery (before it is too late) is crucial. I like the concept of time travel in film (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was a huge success within this genre), but this one is a bit too vague for me. Too many questions are brought up with way too many unanswered.
Time travel is a tricky concept to learn about, no less, convey on the big screen. And finding ways for 2 characters in this predicament to showcase their love is very difficult to execute. As far as finding ways for the two of them to be onscreen together (yet be apart), Alejandro Agresti is very successful. Alex would often speak his letters to her aloud, and vice-versa. There is some vague backing & forthing from 2004 & 2006. Certain scenes showed them together (while it was actually 2 years apart and they had been in the same spot at the time). And then, because they had met before, in real life, there were a couple of scenes sprinkled throughout, where they shared some moments together (including a great kissing scene); one of two in which my fond friend from work, Renee, describes as 'The kiss of the f***ing century'. And I'd be lying if I didn't think some poignant moments were really special; I was moved. And I did enjoy the ending.
However, some things are never fully explained in 'The Lake House'. One example: how the mailbox could have acted as a magic portal. By the way, the first 20 min. of this film are tedious enough with the amount of times we see these 2 characters pacing about the mailbox; it's like, 'we got it, portal through time, get on with it'. It's a sci-fi kind of chick-flick. So, I guess we can suspend our disbelief and just take the mailbox for what it is. But other loopholes really clouded my overall enjoyment of this film. The movie ended and I said, 'OK, it was fine, would have been a decent rental' ... but that's it. I couldn't possibly enjoy the film because I felt like I hadn't solved the puzzle as to what actually happened. And all the while, you are trying to figure out if it is 2004, 2006, or perhaps, 2008. You are also trying to figure out why he/she hasn't showed up at certain meeting places.
I enjoy 'thinker' films such as this. I really wanted to love 'The Lake House', and I did like several moments. But for whatever reason, it irks me a tad too much. Two days later, I've figured out just what happened. It is actually pretty cool, and I'm sure 'The Lake House' is a good book. But it doesn't quite work as a movie. Supporting characters played by Christopher Plummer, Shohreh Aghdashloo, & Dylan Walsh were fine. But Bullock and Reeve's performances seemed hollow, at times. Their saving grace (on-screen chemistry) was the mirage that hid what was a rather confusing movie. I bet most people are still trying to figure this one out. Where's the incentive to make this kind of movie AND entertain people at the same time? I guess the answer is: Money; it's always about making money. Putting these actors on screen together results in anything but box office poison. But because the premise is so questionable, the romance part is unable to fully flourish. Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie couldn't escape a sketchy plotline (in Mr. & Mrs. Smith), and neither can these two.
Time travel is a tricky concept to learn about, no less, convey on the big screen. And finding ways for 2 characters in this predicament to showcase their love is very difficult to execute. As far as finding ways for the two of them to be onscreen together (yet be apart), Alejandro Agresti is very successful. Alex would often speak his letters to her aloud, and vice-versa. There is some vague backing & forthing from 2004 & 2006. Certain scenes showed them together (while it was actually 2 years apart and they had been in the same spot at the time). And then, because they had met before, in real life, there were a couple of scenes sprinkled throughout, where they shared some moments together (including a great kissing scene); one of two in which my fond friend from work, Renee, describes as 'The kiss of the f***ing century'. And I'd be lying if I didn't think some poignant moments were really special; I was moved. And I did enjoy the ending.
However, some things are never fully explained in 'The Lake House'. One example: how the mailbox could have acted as a magic portal. By the way, the first 20 min. of this film are tedious enough with the amount of times we see these 2 characters pacing about the mailbox; it's like, 'we got it, portal through time, get on with it'. It's a sci-fi kind of chick-flick. So, I guess we can suspend our disbelief and just take the mailbox for what it is. But other loopholes really clouded my overall enjoyment of this film. The movie ended and I said, 'OK, it was fine, would have been a decent rental' ... but that's it. I couldn't possibly enjoy the film because I felt like I hadn't solved the puzzle as to what actually happened. And all the while, you are trying to figure out if it is 2004, 2006, or perhaps, 2008. You are also trying to figure out why he/she hasn't showed up at certain meeting places.
I enjoy 'thinker' films such as this. I really wanted to love 'The Lake House', and I did like several moments. But for whatever reason, it irks me a tad too much. Two days later, I've figured out just what happened. It is actually pretty cool, and I'm sure 'The Lake House' is a good book. But it doesn't quite work as a movie. Supporting characters played by Christopher Plummer, Shohreh Aghdashloo, & Dylan Walsh were fine. But Bullock and Reeve's performances seemed hollow, at times. Their saving grace (on-screen chemistry) was the mirage that hid what was a rather confusing movie. I bet most people are still trying to figure this one out. Where's the incentive to make this kind of movie AND entertain people at the same time? I guess the answer is: Money; it's always about making money. Putting these actors on screen together results in anything but box office poison. But because the premise is so questionable, the romance part is unable to fully flourish. Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie couldn't escape a sketchy plotline (in Mr. & Mrs. Smith), and neither can these two.