The Longest Ride (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
Here we go again, another year, another syrupy film adaptation from a sappy Nicholas Sparks novel. This time it's the generically-titled 'The Longest Ride' (directed by George Tillman Jr.) yet, much to my surprise, while it can't hold a candle to 2004's The Notebook ... this movie is probably a distant 2nd to that film & quite a bit ahead of the latest Sparks film versions. Set in North Carolina {surprise, surprise}, we meet Luke (Scott Eastwood - Clint's strapping young son), a former champion bull rider who is desperate to make a comeback after suffering a very serious head injury. At a rodeo, he meets Sophia (Britt Robertson), a studious college senior who is excited about her departure from Greensboro & commencing an internship up in NYC's glamorous art world. She's more worldly, free-spirited, & spontaneous. And he's an old-fashioned man's man; one who calls, rather than texts, & brings her flowers on their 1st date, etc..
Despite these differences, they are soon riding off into the sunset; literally & figuratively. Howwwever, one dark, rainy night, while the two drive home from an outing, Luke spots a car that has spun-off the road. He rescues 91 yr. old Ira Levinson (Alan Alda), who was driving to Black Mountain College (near Asheville) while Sophie grabs Ira's treasured cache of letters from the passenger seat. In the local hospital, Ira's speaks to Sophia and recalls vivid memories from the 1940s - cue a bunch of lovely flashbacks - of him (Jack Huston) & his beloved art-enthusiast wife Ruth (Oona Chaplin, Charlie Chaplin's granddaughter). His stories inspire the young couple; particularly Sophie. But of course, this is a Nicholas Sparks story, so all sorts of complications, romantic entanglements, hard feelings, poor decisions, tragedy, & melodrama ensues which threatens the budding relationship of our two main protagonists.
Okay, so it would be fairly easy to pick on 'The Longest Ride'. These Nicholas Sparks adaptations are not known for their unique plots, scintillating dialogue, or A-list production teams. That said, while 'The Longest Ride' conforms to those expectations ... there's something slightly different about this one. I don't know if it's the dual narratives (one set in the early 2000s, one set in the 1940s). I don't know if it’s the sweet performances from Britt Robertson & Scott Eastwood. Maybe it's this director. Whatever the case, I did not find 'The Longest Ride' to be too bad. In fact, when I wasn't rolling my eyes at the hokey parts, I was genuinely compelled by what was going on and how it all would end. Granted, the "end" isn't so great, but the journey to it was quite pleasant.
It's amazing how much Scott Eastwood resembles his father from way back in the day. Having said that, I think Scott has even more of a chiseled jaw and even a more powerful physique. He can't quite command the screen with the same aura. And he lacks the soulfulness of a Ryan Gosling. But he's got 'something'. I also like Britt Robertson, here. While she's no Rachel McAdams, she's pretty, spunky, has strong rapport with Eastwood, & she kept me watching her. The characterizations of Ira & Ruth (from the 1940s segments) are thin, but I liked the performances from Jack Huston & Oona Chaplin. And Alan Alda is very strong as the elderly, ailing Ira who clings to his love letters and the memories that they stir.
There are a few rodeo sequences throughout the film that are tense/exciting -- I never knew just how they would conclude; if someone were to get hurt or killed, etc.. There's also a scene or two depicting a WWII battle. But really, this is simply a sudsy, slushy, sentimental melodrama. And on those merits, I give it a mild passing grade; something I can rarely say about these incessant Nicholas Spark flicks. 'The Longest Ride' evokes the potent theme that love often comes with great sacrifice & compromise. The film tugs on the heartstrings with standard-issue romance. Despite some preposterous plot points & silly missteps, I admire how the script intertwines the two narratives. And while I didn't care DEEPLY about the Luke/Sophia, Ira/Ruth pairings … I cared enough.
Despite these differences, they are soon riding off into the sunset; literally & figuratively. Howwwever, one dark, rainy night, while the two drive home from an outing, Luke spots a car that has spun-off the road. He rescues 91 yr. old Ira Levinson (Alan Alda), who was driving to Black Mountain College (near Asheville) while Sophie grabs Ira's treasured cache of letters from the passenger seat. In the local hospital, Ira's speaks to Sophia and recalls vivid memories from the 1940s - cue a bunch of lovely flashbacks - of him (Jack Huston) & his beloved art-enthusiast wife Ruth (Oona Chaplin, Charlie Chaplin's granddaughter). His stories inspire the young couple; particularly Sophie. But of course, this is a Nicholas Sparks story, so all sorts of complications, romantic entanglements, hard feelings, poor decisions, tragedy, & melodrama ensues which threatens the budding relationship of our two main protagonists.
Okay, so it would be fairly easy to pick on 'The Longest Ride'. These Nicholas Sparks adaptations are not known for their unique plots, scintillating dialogue, or A-list production teams. That said, while 'The Longest Ride' conforms to those expectations ... there's something slightly different about this one. I don't know if it's the dual narratives (one set in the early 2000s, one set in the 1940s). I don't know if it’s the sweet performances from Britt Robertson & Scott Eastwood. Maybe it's this director. Whatever the case, I did not find 'The Longest Ride' to be too bad. In fact, when I wasn't rolling my eyes at the hokey parts, I was genuinely compelled by what was going on and how it all would end. Granted, the "end" isn't so great, but the journey to it was quite pleasant.
It's amazing how much Scott Eastwood resembles his father from way back in the day. Having said that, I think Scott has even more of a chiseled jaw and even a more powerful physique. He can't quite command the screen with the same aura. And he lacks the soulfulness of a Ryan Gosling. But he's got 'something'. I also like Britt Robertson, here. While she's no Rachel McAdams, she's pretty, spunky, has strong rapport with Eastwood, & she kept me watching her. The characterizations of Ira & Ruth (from the 1940s segments) are thin, but I liked the performances from Jack Huston & Oona Chaplin. And Alan Alda is very strong as the elderly, ailing Ira who clings to his love letters and the memories that they stir.
There are a few rodeo sequences throughout the film that are tense/exciting -- I never knew just how they would conclude; if someone were to get hurt or killed, etc.. There's also a scene or two depicting a WWII battle. But really, this is simply a sudsy, slushy, sentimental melodrama. And on those merits, I give it a mild passing grade; something I can rarely say about these incessant Nicholas Spark flicks. 'The Longest Ride' evokes the potent theme that love often comes with great sacrifice & compromise. The film tugs on the heartstrings with standard-issue romance. Despite some preposterous plot points & silly missteps, I admire how the script intertwines the two narratives. And while I didn't care DEEPLY about the Luke/Sophia, Ira/Ruth pairings … I cared enough.