For years, I’ve been an unhappy fan of Nicholas Sparks movie adaptations, but now I can say I’ve seen a film that lives up to “A Walk to Remember.”
When I first saw the trailer for “The Longest Ride,” I was hopeful this film would capture the passion and struggles of love. I went to the local theater with high hopes, and I was not disappointed.
The plot interweaves two love stories: the modern day romance between Luke and Sophia and flashbacks of a World War II-era romance between Ira and Ruth. I thought the parallels between the two couples were done skillfully through both women’s love of art.
I also liked how the audience saw flashbacks of Ira and Ruth’s life together when Sophia read letters that Ira had written. It reminded me of how Noah read Allie their story in the nursing home frame story of “The Notebook.”
If I could describe the majority of this film simply, the word that comes to mind is blue. The romantic story lines both showed the trials that couples can face, and some issues were almost too difficult for the relationships to survive. There were arguments and break-ups, of course, and all four main characters shed many tears.
Something that pulled me out of the story for a moment was an observation about the costuming for the film. Both Luke, played by Scott Eastwood, and Sophia, played by Britt Robertson, wear shades of blue for 90 percent of the film. Although this might seem like an unimportant detail, I noticed it, and once I saw it, I couldn’t un-see it. I like the color blue, but wouldn’t a sorority girl like Sophia own clothing in other colors?
Despite this odd tidbit, I enjoyed watching “The Longest Ride.” I thought the ups and downs both couples faced were realistic, and I liked the overall message that love requires sacrifice. I would definitely suggest this movie for a girls’ night out or a date, as long as you and your significant other can look past a little partial nudity. In my opinion, the film is worth going to see just for the two love stories.