The Notebook

I know I haven't posted in this thing for over two years, but I need to get this off my chest, and this is a movie blog, and maybe I'll start writing more diligently.

The Notebook may, in fact, is a horribly horribly overrated movie that makes me want to tear my hair out in frustration every time I hear someone gush about how awesome it is.

I originally wanted to say "is the worst movie ever", but there are definitely worse movies. I mean, this move is middling at best. It has some redeeming factors, so before all the womens get all butthurt, I will list them.

1) Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams have great chemistry. Probably because they are hot for each other in the worst way, but whatever the reason, the way the look at each other with love in their eyes, and the "throwdown" during the sex scenes is perfect and the on-screen equivalent of a harlequin novel. I have a feeling this is the aspect that makes people defend this movie so vehemently.

2) Visually, the movie is fairly well done. It's been a while since I have seen the movie actually, but I do remember that visually it was very impressive - lots to look at, good good.

3) I feel I cannot fairly hate this movie without having read the book by Nicholas Sparks, who, as you may know, also wrote the fairly popular (but not as rabidly adored) "A Walk to Remember". I liked that movie (it wasn't mind blowingly amazing, but it was cute and watchable and left me with a good feeling after). So I can only hope that something was lost in translation to screenplay on "The Notebook".

So why don't I love this movie?

Its something I can't put my finger on - perhaps the dialogue was a little too cutesy for my liking. Perhaps I've seen the "poor boy rich girl" scenario, or the "omg, the old guy/girl at the end turns out to be the people in the story" cliches done too many times - and this story didn't bring much to the mix. The only surprising thing was that Allie's (McAdams) later fiance is actually a decent human being rather than a terrible villain - I felt bad for him when the girl he presumably loved (or at least likes enough to marry) ditches him in a somewhat slutty way.

Color me cynical, but this movie didn't leave me with a warm fuzzy feeling at the end. Maybe I'm just a hater. Maybe the fact that I find neither McAdams nor Gosling appealing on a personal level. Maybe I hate it just because everyone likes it so much (I do that alot), or I don't believe in soul mates or that fairytale perfect romance or destiny.

Maybe I just would have rather watched Titanic again for the umpteenth time.

If you like The Notebook, that's cool. I don't.