DVD movie review

Two guys and two girls centers the latest Nicholas Sparks production, The Choice (2016, USA):

On a coastal town, on a beautiful sunny day, veterinarian Travis is chatting up some local girls, but is swiftly taken away by his girlfriend Monica.

Travis has a silver tongue and, apparently, a way with woman, which may not be a very good combination, for the sake of the woman in his life.

He likes his next door neighbor Gabby, a medical student, who at first cannot stand him. She tells him to quieten down his loud music after a barbecue one evening. Then, his womanizing ways come to play, but Gabby isn’t ‘swept off her feet’.

Gabby is different from the others, though. Over time, she is bringing out Travis’ ‘real self’, though who could trust a man with his reputation?

It takes some time, but leads to where you would expect this. A love story ensues.

However, Gabby has a boyfriend, Ryan, who is a doctor.

Two guys, two girls…what will happen to Ryan’s relationship with Gabby when she’s with Travis? What will happen to Travis and Monica’s relationship? Choices, choices.

Movies have been there, done that, but the Nicholas Sparks way brings something fresh to play, though a slick production. I immediately think of Nights in Rodanthe, where the ending isn’t formulaic, and The Best of Me‘s grand scheme of things theme.

The final act is serious and thoughtful and shows how Travis reacts when bad things happen to his and Gabby’s lives.

There’s some effort put into creating a positive worldview despite life’s slings and arrows and the pain of loss feeling like hell.

It involves God pulling strings behind life which is unlikely and even miraculous. It involves being under a caring hand, guiding events for good, despite some choices being the wrong ones.

That sounds good to me.

Warnings—sex scenes, coarse language

Notes—Ross Katz (Director), Bryan Sipe (writer, based on Nicholas Sparks novel), Featuring: Benjamin Walker (Travis), Teresa Palmer (Gabby), Maggie Grace (Steph), Tom Wilkinson (Shep), Alexandra Daddario (Monica), Tom Welling (Ryan)