There wasn’t a dry eye in the room when the credits for “The Last Song” started rolling. As the audience members sat there crying together they knew that they had just seen something wonderful.
The movie, distributed by Walt Disney Studios and based on a Nicholas Sparks’ novel of the same name, was everything that no one expected.
Both heartwarming and heartwrenching, the Hollywood movie makers have exceeded expectations.
“The Last Song” follows a young, troubled girl named Ronnie (Miley Cyrus) to North Carolina during the summer when she visits her estranged father, played by Greg Kinnear. Through a series of events, Ronnie finds friends, love and reconciliation.
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of acting in this film. Cyrus certainly exceeded my expectations. I actually forgot I was watching a pop-princess.
Twelve-year-old Bobby Coleman’s performance as Ronnie’s little brother Jonah was second to none–he was as good as any well-seasoned actor.
Far from how it is advertised, “The Last Song” is not merely a romantic love story. It is a story about all kinds of love that we take for granted: Love between friends, love between siblings and love between a father and his child.
Ronnie’s father says to her in one touching scene, “Love is fragile and we’re not always its best caretakers.”
Of course, there is a romantic love story involved. It wouldn’t be the Nicholas Sparks many have come to love if there wasn’t.
Aside from that, “The Last Song” is a stunning portrayal of the complications of life and the ways in which we lovingly and graciously help each other through them.
The movie isn’t just a sob-fest. It’s funny, too, and surprisingly so. Anyone with a sibling, parent or friend will find him or herself chuckling at some point during the film. It is just that good.
And ladies, don’t be timid about dragging your fellas to see this one. It isn’t a chick-flick. It’s a life-flick. So anyone who has a life will enjoy it.