The Last Song

Synopsis: A father and daughter try to reconnect through their shared love of music.

Release Date: April 2, 2010     MPAA Rating: PG-13

Genre(s): Drama,

Film Review

Wake me up when it’s over. The cure for insomnia can be found in this latest adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel. There must be a story somewhere in the first three-quarters of the movie, aside from boy meets girl and has a mud fight or girl hates dad for divorcing mom, yet nothing happens. The slow pace is unmanageable as there are no real turning points so you never know exactly where the plot is leading you and where it may end up. Then out of nowhere it hits you with what is becoming the “Sparks Cliche of Tragedy”. This turn of events may pull at the heart strings and touch a nerve but it is still quite vapid. “The Last Song” should merely be a last resort.

Greg Kinnear (Steve) can do no wrong; even when given some of the most corny speeches to mutter to his teenage daughter and young son. Miley Cyrus (Veronica) on the other hand can do nothing. Her performance is completely flat. There is no change in her levels or tone. She can be yelling, crying, or full of bliss and you would never know the difference. This makes her character unapproachable for the viewer. To feel anything for this angst ridden teenager is impossible. She is not as bad as fingernails on a chalkboard but at times she comes close with the consistent pout of her mouth and nasal ridden voice.

Liam Hemsworth (Will) desperately wants us to like him, and Veronica (Cyrus) as well. You really want to buy into his nice guy persona and hope that the angry teen Veronica will melt to his Southern Charm. She does at times but with Veronica’s complete emotional emptiness the building of chemistry between the two is out of reach. You can try to buy into this coupling but it takes far too much energy to expel in order to do so.

It will never cease to amaze me how no matter how bad a Nicholas Sparks novel adaption onto film is, it never fails to get you weeping in the end. I could not help but hear the sounds of sniffling women everywhere around me in the theatre. If nothing else, this film has helped to define the “woman’s weepie” just as many have before and many will again.

Cast and Crew

• Director(s): Julie Anne Robinson
• Producer(s): Nicholas SparksJeff Van WieMiley Cyrus (Veronica Miller)
• Screenwriter(s): Greg Kinnear (Steve Miller)Bobby Coleman (Jonah Miller)Kelly Preston (Kim Miller)
• Story: Liam Hemsworth (Will)
• Cast:  Nancy RichardsonJohn LindleyNelson Coates
• Editor(s): Louise Frogley
• Cinematographer: Aaron Zigman
• Production Designer(s):
• Costume Designer: 
• Casting Director(s): 
• Music Score: 
• Music Performed By: 
• Country Of Origin: USA