New Trailer for THE BEST OF ME

I don't think I've watched a Nicholas Sparks adaptation since maybe Dear John or The Lucky One, but even if that's true I don't remember much from either of them. Last years Safe Haven looked pretty horrible though I hear the ridiculous ending is worth a rental. For some unexplainable reason though I can't help but hold out a little bit of interest in the latest incarnation of Sparks' love story that centers on two young lovers who were driven apart in their teens and reunite after twenty years only to have the same demons arise once again to test their love. I mean, that sounds ridiculously cheesy already, but the trailer doesn't make it look half-bad and conveys the theme of not being able to make up for lost time, lost experiences and all that come with it in a rather affecting fashion. The unexplained can only be brought some kind of understanding by the level of casting at play here. Paul Walker was originally slated to play the lead role, but was replaced by James Marsden after his untimely death. With Marsden as well as Michelle Monaghan in the leads there is a better sense of credibility to the proceedings while the scenes featuring the younger versions of their characters may not come off as such. Liana Liberato has done solid work in the past (trust) though I can't judge Luke Bracey by anything but this trailer. I highly doubt this will break the Sparks mold in any fashion, but there can always be hope it might be slightly better than the standard. The Best of Me also stars Caroline Goodall, Gerald McRaney and opens on October 17th.


Synopsis: Based on the bestselling novel by acclaimed author Nicholas Sparks, The Best of Me tells the story of Dawson and Amanda, two former high school sweethearts who find themselves reunited after 20 years apart, when they return to their small town for the funeral of a beloved friend. Their bittersweet reunion reignites the love they’ve never forgotten, but soon they discover the forces that drove them apart twenty years ago live on, posing even more serious threats today. Spanning decades, this epic love story captures the enduring power of our first true love, and the wrenching choices we face when confronted with elusive second chances.