Three stars (out of four)
When I saw that James Garner and Gena Rowlands were in this picture, I knew it couldn't be all bad. It is better than that. This is a love story that is at times silly and at times sad, but it is ultimately about devotion, real devotion.
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams are two really good actors who, along with veterans Garner and Rowlands, bring their characters and the story to life warmly and richly.
If this were a book, and it is based on one, you would not want to put it down. You will wish you knew people like these -- and then you will realize you do.
Depending on your emotional makeup, you may cry a little, you may laugh a bit, but when you walk out of this movie, I think you will feel good.
This is a story better suited for adults and not children.
- Jim Lloyd, building supervisor
--
One star (out of four)
If you like soap operas you will love this movie. Since I do not like soap operas, this two-hour movie was about an hour and a half too long.
Even though it is not a Disney film, it is very Disney-esque. There is an initial romance, years of separation and new loves, and then fate brings the couple back together again to live happily ever after.
It was a little odd seeing James Garner, (who played tough guy Jim Rockford back in the 1970s), play such a sad character. He lives in a nursing home with his wife who has Alzheimer's and can no longer remember him or their children, so he continually reads their life story to help her remember.
In the end, she never really remembers and they die in bed together. There were several people crying in the theater, but I think that was because they were bored to tears.
- David Pruitt, engineer
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.