Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner in a promo poster for Twilight: New Moon
Romance is one of the most popular genres in both books and film; audiences love a love story. Because of their popularity, many romantic novels are adapted into movies, though often with mixed results. For every great adaptation like Pride & Prejudice or The Notebook, there are countless awful ones, like The Lucky One or Something Borrowed.
The movie tries to balance the intricacies of time travel with the emotional weight of a love story, but it often stumbles due to its erratic pacing and lack of depth. Consequently, some of the big scenes become melodramatic rather than moving. The Time Traveler's Wife also touches on big sci-fi concepts and even some existential questions but fails to explore them adequately. The end result is an awkward fusion of a rom-com and a time travel story; When Harry Met Sally with a hint of Tenet.
The Lucky One adds up to a schmalzy and melodramatic snoozefest, adding nothing new to the genre. There's cheesy dialogue, heavy-handed treatment of sensitive themes, unintentional comedy, and shaky acting. Efron is lifeless and robotic, while Schilling is over-the-top, creating an ill-fitting dynamic. Despite retreading old ground, the film was a big commercial success, grossing just shy of $100m, proving that Sparks' well-worn formula continues to resonate.
Unfortunately, the book's strengths were squandered by the movie adaptation. It comes across like a gender-swapped Twilight, with a rushed plot and disappointing visual effects. Tonally, it lurches clumsily between serious drama and campy humor, with neither landing particularly well. While Englert and Ehrenreich give earnest performances, the film's lack of direction and inconsistent pacing prevent it from capturing the novel's intrigue.
Once again, this is a movie that is woefully inconsistent in tone. We pivot from somber scenes involving death to upbeat ones involving love interests, and then to another where a character assaults a classmate while catchy pop music blares from the soundtrack. While the performances of the lead cast and the film's source material might make it slightly more tolerable, the careless writing and editing strip The Kissing Booth of any real credibility or lasting impression.
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