The Best of Me

A couple of months ago I went with my sister and cousin to watch The Best of Me. My sister loves Nicholas Sparks (books and movies) and so she never misses one.

As is to be expected from Sparks, the movie was sappy, sad, and sexy. Not that I don't like his other movies, but I feel like this one had more depth at times.

It was the cliche plot of high school sweethearts who lose contact and meet up years later die to the death of a friend only to realize that there is still something between them.

Dawson grow up in a broken home, his family being a hillbilly gang...it's not certain what they deal, but probably moonshine and maybe drugs. They definitely handle, if not sell, weapons. Amanda is one of those classic rich, southern, white girls. She has a life that appears to be perfect (whether or not it really is).

Dawson is the classic ugly duckling character that every girl wishes was real. He has a rough look and muscular build that make him ruggedly handsome, while the other men in his family are just a bit scary and ugly. He is also different because he is smart and quiet. He doesn't belong and everyone knows it because his good heart shows through. And so Amanda falls for him. Their relationship is beautiful as they find refuge in each other. Their love is pure and innocent. This is the depth I spoke of.

Years later, the man who looked out for Dawson dies and leaves everything to the couple in his will. I didn't like this part of the plot as much, but the echoes of the past and plot twists helped. I won't reveal much except that she tries to ignore him because she has moved on and has her own family, but that doesn't last the whole movie (obviously...it's Nicholas Sparks!). What bothered me about this was that she was married.

To summarize the rest, Dawson's past comes back to haunt him an the rest is so predictable.

Overall, not bad...okay pretty good as long as you are comfortable with the Sparks level of love and love-making.