The notebook still considered classic

By sky — June 21, 2011

By Rebecca Murray

Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling in “The Notebook”Photo © New Line

I’ve heard people refer to “The Notebook” as cheesy, as a ‘chick flick’ (a label very few of my colleagues can stand because of its negative connotation), as predictable and sappy. So “The Notebook” doesn’t exactly take a brain surgeon to guess how the story is going to play out. And it doesunapologetically play on your emotions, practically begging you to squeeze out a few tears. But here’s why I enjoyed “The Notebook”: it’s a movie you can relax and let flow over you. It’s also one of the few films out there that tells a complete story. There’s a well-defined beginning, middle, and end.

“The Notebook” is the story of a boy from the poor side of the tracks who – predictably – falls for a beautiful, rich girl. What is not so predictable is how far he’ll go to prove they were meant to be together.

Rachel McAdams stars as sheltered Southern Belle, Allie Hamilton. Allie pays a visit to Seabrook, North Carolina to see her family and while there, Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) works his ‘small-town boy’ charms on her. Despite disparate backgrounds, the two find they’ve got a lot in common, including a zest for life – and their need to drive each other crazy. Over the span of a hot North Carolina summer, Allie and Noah fall passionately in love.

But all doesn’t go smoothly for the mismatched pair of lovebirds. Allie’s mom puts the kibosh on their relationship, sending Allie off to school and out of Noah’s reach. Still Noah persists until finally, seven long years later, Allie returns to Seabrook and must choose between her rich, handsome fiancée (James Marsden) and her first love, the equally handsome but not-so-wealthy, Noah.

The filmmakers got it right when they chose Gosling, McAdams, Marsden, James Garner and Gena Rowlands. Each of these actors is pitch-perfect. Each brings a freshness to these characters. Even though we’ve seen the same types of characters before, these actors makes them feel interesting and unique.

“The Notebook” is a gentle romantic tale in the midst of blockbuster action films and goofball comedies. It could be argued that releasing it in mid-June is counter-programming at its best, giving adults who don’t want their senses assailed by CGI special effects a real choice at the box office. But you have to wonder if “The Notebook” would have stood a better chance of finding the right audience had it been released later in the year, when moviegoers are really ready for more intense storytelling, than during the crowded summer months.

“The Notebook” isn’t just a film for women. It’s a movie for anyone who wants to get lost in a beautiful story, for anyone who believes romance is still alive on film.