Hot on the heels of “The
Fault In Our Stars” comes another teen romance movie of the year, in which love
is in the hands of life and death. Mia
Hall (Chloë Grace Moretz) thought the hardest decision she would ever face
would be whether to pursue her musical dreams at Juilliard or follow a
different path to be with the love of her life, Adam (Jamie Blackley). But what
should have been a carefree family drive changes everything in an instant, and
now her own life hangs in the balance. Caught between life and death for one
revealing day, Mia has only one decision left, which will not only decide her
future but her ultimate fate. "If I Stay" is based on the
best-selling novel of the same name.
"If I Stay" is a movie a smart teenage boy would take his girlfriend to see, in order to impress her how
sensitive he can be. Or, it is a film a group of middle school or high school
girls would see in order to fantasize about having the perfect boyfriend. This
movie is nonthreatening and idealized, despite its grim subject. The movie is
made for 14-year-old girls. It's told from the perspective of a teenage high
schooler and has a naïve obsession with idealized romance.
When tragedy strikes as Mia and her all-too-perfect family drive down a snowy mountain road in Portland, something tragic happens that confirms the goodness of humanity.
Everyone is so supportive and sweet that you start to wonder when the real world is going to come crashing down. It never does. Although I did cry watching this movie, the movie's sweetness undermines the tragedy that rips Mia's world, making it seem as if it's just a bump in the road of life.
She gets so much love and support from family, friends and, most importantly, her rocker boyfriend Adam (Jamie Blackley), that you really cannot seriously consider that she won't stay. After all, Adam is the perfect boyfriend — talented, polite, kind, compassionate. I could go on and on. Even though he plays in a rock band, his life is as pure as the first snow of the season. And when Adam starts singing the song he wrote for Mia, well, there's not a dry eye in the theater.
Given the weepy premise, Mia (Chloe Moretz) could have easily overacted. She verges on doing so most of the movie. But she knows when to pull back the confused teenager routine and throw in some color instead.
Mia is shy but not hopeless, young but not unsophisticated. Much of the plot centers around her helplessly watching events unfold, yet her personality remains firmly present. It's a refreshing performance in a genre that's been dominated by the "Twilight" series. "If I Stay" is aimed at a specific audience and displays that in detail. There are no tones, everything is straightforward.
Yes, the film is entertaining, but undemanding and nothing special. It offers no twists, or surprises. It plays out like a road map where every stop and turn is clearly marked.
"If I Stay" is a movie a smart teenage boy would take his girlfriend to see, in order to impress her how
sensitive he can be. Or, it is a film a group of middle school or high school
girls would see in order to fantasize about having the perfect boyfriend. This
movie is nonthreatening and idealized, despite its grim subject. The movie is
made for 14-year-old girls. It's told from the perspective of a teenage high
schooler and has a naïve obsession with idealized romance.
When tragedy strikes as Mia and her all-too-perfect family drive down a snowy mountain road in Portland, something tragic happens that confirms the goodness of humanity.
Everyone is so supportive and sweet that you start to wonder when the real world is going to come crashing down. It never does. Although I did cry watching this movie, the movie's sweetness undermines the tragedy that rips Mia's world, making it seem as if it's just a bump in the road of life.
She gets so much love and support from family, friends and, most importantly, her rocker boyfriend Adam (Jamie Blackley), that you really cannot seriously consider that she won't stay. After all, Adam is the perfect boyfriend — talented, polite, kind, compassionate. I could go on and on. Even though he plays in a rock band, his life is as pure as the first snow of the season. And when Adam starts singing the song he wrote for Mia, well, there's not a dry eye in the theater.
Given the weepy premise, Mia (Chloe Moretz) could have easily overacted. She verges on doing so most of the movie. But she knows when to pull back the confused teenager routine and throw in some color instead.
Mia is shy but not hopeless, young but not unsophisticated. Much of the plot centers around her helplessly watching events unfold, yet her personality remains firmly present. It's a refreshing performance in a genre that's been dominated by the "Twilight" series. "If I Stay" is aimed at a specific audience and displays that in detail. There are no tones, everything is straightforward.
Yes, the film is entertaining, but undemanding and nothing special. It offers no twists, or surprises. It plays out like a road map where every stop and turn is clearly marked.