THE LAST SONG (REVIEW)
This
gratifying film is credible for one main reason, the bid for pop princess Miley
Cyrus, to gain acting respect. She plays Ronnie Miller, a rebellious child of
divorce and prototypical teenager.
Becoming known as a bad
seed the older she gets, Ronnie is shipped off with her precocious little brother,
Jonah, from the city life of Manhattan to the ocean shores of Georgia. The summer
is to be spent at a lovely beach house with their estranged father (Greg Kinnear).
Ronnie is not happy and constantly defiant. She mopes around and sulks to the
point of aggravation until she meets Will, played by Australian Liam Hemsworth.
He is an easy on the eye local from an upper crust, well to do family. The pair
share an unlikely attraction and a teen romance blossoms. The silver spoons within
Will's family begin to rattle as they protest this audacious city slicker from
garnering his attention. Thus begins a Romeo & Juliet style dalliance with
an all but obvious side story popping up in-between, especially if you think about
the films title for a few seconds.
This film was adapted, yet
again from popular author of 'The Notebook', Nicholas Sparks. As in his recent
big screen weepie, 'Dear John', you know exactly what you're going to get from
flirting, hearts beating fast, love and tragedy. Former television director, Julie
Anne Robinson knows her core audience well, with mothers and daughters alike sure
to be teary eyed throughout.
There's moments of pure fluff,
especially during regular musical interludes and even a shopping montage that
could have been lifted from a General Pants commercial. However, Miley Cyrus can
act. I know this is a bold statement from a reviewer who thinks Meryl Streep is
phenomenal, but in my eyes she's believably good and slowly moving beyond the
Hannah Montana shadow. Seemingly, Cyrus is being groomed for adult orientated
roles as she is soon to appear in the 'Sex & The City' sequel.
Pure
eye candy Aussie boy, Liam Hemsworth, is commendable on the acting front and sure
to have females gushing. In real life, it's well documented that he also dates
his U.S co-star. Last seen double crossing the Military in the brilliant 'Green
Zone', Greg Kinnear, is fodder as the father who gets to know his daughter all
over again. A memorable small role is worth noting from young starlet Carly Chaiken
as Blaze, a foe and a friend to Ronnie when she most needs it.
Take
the tissues, 'The Last Song' may not win any Academy awards, but is the best chick
flick around this Easter school holidays.
Shane A. Bassett
