Nicholas Sparks’ tenth movie adaptation will take you on an emotional rollercoaster, just like the previous nine.
There’s a specific recipe that Nicholas Sparks-based movies follow, and 'The Longest Ride' follows every step to a tee. A couple who are from completely different worlds somehow bump into each other and fall in love, only to be faced with twists and turns, and finally triumph to live happily ever after. Check, check and check, this movie ticks all the boxes without fail.
'The Longest Ride' follows the story of Luke (Scott Eastwood), a champion bull rider who strives to be nothing but the best, and Sophia (Brittany Robertson), an ambitious art student who has secured a future in New York upon her graduation at the end of the semester. When Sophia finds herself at one of Luke’s competitions as part of an outing with her sorority sisters, she catches his hat and his eye in a cliché yet romantic gesture at the end of his ride. As the evening progresses, they find themselves in each others company yet again, where they agree to go on a real date.
It’s here that Sophia finds out how much of an old fashioned gentleman Luke really is. He calls rather than texts, insists on picking her up and bringing her flowers, and takes her to a BBQ picnic by the lake. Unfortunately after discussions about the future, they come to the realisation that their romance could end as quickly as it had begun, with Sophia leaving for New York in the summer. The drive home from the date throws an unexpected plot twist into the story when they come across a car accident on the side of the road and rescue Ira (Alan Alda) and his box of love letters from the wreckage. The weeks that follow see Sophia making regular trips to the hospital to read Ira’s love letters to his wife Ruth, while continuing to develop her affection for Luke.
Here Sparks veers from his traditions by offering the audience a two-for-one deal. The intertwining sub-plot delves into the young romance of Ira and Ruth almost half a century prior, revealing sepia-toned flashbacks of their lives before, during and after the war. The star-crossed lovers face issues that turn out to be similar to those that Luke and Sophia currently confront, and as both stories unfold it becomes clear that love can conquer all.
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Some may call it cliché, others call it classic, either way he must be doing something right, because 'The Longest Ride' has pulled heart strings and won critics over once again. With a clever mash up of love stories, the movie will guarantee to make you laugh and cry, and will ultimately leave you with that ‘feel good’ feeling as you walk out of the theatres after the predictable yet satisfying happily ever after.
If you’re looking for a movie that is indicative, deep and thoughtful, maybe reconsider your options. But if it’s a girl’s night out, or even date night, and you’re looking for a cheesy, romantic chick flick with all the features of a Nicholas Sparks story, then look no further than 'The Longest Ride'.
3/5
‘The Longest Ride’ is in cinemas now.
