See it at the Movies

The Best of Me

with Joyce & Don Fowler
Posted 10/24/14

* * ½

(Soppy melodrama)

Joyce, the romantic, was generous in her * * ½ rating of this soppy, melodramatic soap opera about unrequited love.

Set in the rural south, “The Best of Me” …

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See it at the Movies

The Best of Me

Posted

* * ½

(Soppy melodrama)

Joyce, the romantic, was generous in her * * ½ rating of this soppy, melodramatic soap opera about unrequited love.

Set in the rural south, “The Best of Me” stars Michelle Monaghan as Amanda and James Marsden as Dawson, two former high school sweethearts who were separated through tragedy and meet again 20 years later (“Actually, it was 21,” Dawson keeps reminding her).

Unfortunately, Dawson is from the wrong side of the tracks, running away from his redneck father and brothers and living with a curmudgeonly old man who protects him from his family, at great cost to him. Tragedy occurs, and our two young lovers are separated, only to meet again when the old man dies and leaves everything to the two of them. The tragic tale is shown in flashbacks using two younger actors who look nothing like Monaghan and Marsden.

Dawson had a life-threatening experience aboard an oil rig, while Amanda spent the last two decades married to the biggest jerk in film history. It was only fate that the two teen lovers should be thrown together again.

But wait, there’s more. We still have another half dozen tragic events to witness before the unbelievable ending that will leave some weeping while others like us, race for the exit.

Rated PG-13, with violence, profanity and some sex.

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