Nights in Rodanthe Review

The movie is 97 minutes long; which in my opinion wasn't long enough to get into the depth of the characters but I guess was sufficient enough to give it a storyline.  I think the producers could have made a better movie if they would have added that extra 30+ minutes to develop the characters better and give the relationships more time to "gel" with the viewers.  It is rated PG-13 for some mild language and sensuality.  The sensualness is not explicit so it's not something I would be concerned about if teenagers saw.  They will see worse on daytime TV. 

The movie was filmed entirely on location at Carolina Beach, NC.  I believe when using a beach theme they should have used an area that was comprised of the traditional grandstand.  The inn where most of the movie took place was in an isolated area with just shorelines and sand dunes.  The only logical reason for this that I could come up with was the one time during the film when Lane mentions the Banger horses.  I must leave that topic alone so that you can see how it comes about later in the movie. 

The movie opens with a scene on the beach.  A man twirling a young girl around and around.  Adrienne Willis (Diane Lane) awakens to realize she has been dreaming about her father.  He passed away 7 months earlier and it is apparent that his loss has had a major impact on her.  She has agreed to go to Rodanthe to take care of her best friend, Jean's (Viola Davis) inn.  At the same time, Dr. Paul Flanner (Richard Gere) is a physician who feels responsible for the death of a surgery patient who died from a reaction to anesthesia. He agrees to drive to an isolated beach house in Rodanthe, North Carolina to meet with the deceased patient's husband, Mr. Torrelson (Scott Glenn). You later learn that Mr. Torrelson has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the doctor. This trip proves to be two-fold for Gere as he sets out to bring his son Mark (James Franco) back from Equador.  At this point there are already several little story lines coming into play:

• Adrienne's reason for watching the inn for Jean.
• The relationship between Paul and Mark.
• Why did Mark move to Equador?
• The meeting with Mr. Torrelson and Dr. Flanner.  A very touching moment, "What color were her eyes?" and then the second encounter. 

Meanwhile, Adrienne is struggling with her two young children, who are in turn coping with their parent's recent divorce.  Adrienne wants nothing to do with her unfaithful husband Jack (Christopher Meloni) who is begging her to let him come back home.  These open discussions in front of the children only spark hostility between Adrienne and her daughter Amanda (Mae Whitman).   As fate would have it, and the commercials show, Gere and Lane end up at Rodanthe all alone as everyone else in the area is preparing for a potential hurricane.  "What happens in Rodanthe stays in Rodanthe."  Not!

Most of the time when you put Richard Gere opposite a leading lady you are expecting a love story of some sort (An Officer and a Gentleman, Pretty Woman, Shall We Dance, and Autumn in New York) and this movie delivers those expectations but I believe the movie is more of a drama than a romance.  You  know it's going to happen but I guess you are amazed at how fast the romance blossoms.   The movie takes the tragedies in both people's lives and somehow allows them to fall in love.  Does that make sense?  I guess it seemed more appropriate for Lane's character to fall in love because she lost her husband and father but I'm not sure how it came about so suddenly for Gere.   You see the weekend at Rodanthe end and then much of the movie is the two of them writing letters back and forth and the hint of love really coming to fruition.  When Lane gets home she must deal with her ex and his plea to come home.  You will have to watch the movie if you want to know who she chooses. 

There is a soundtrack available but I personally will not be adding it to my collection.  I wasn't the least bit familiar with any of the music; except of course the song "Just Between You and Me" which was performed years ago by Porter Waggoner and Dolly Parton.  I know some of the music was probably classic songs from days gone by because Lane was playing records and my Mama Lybrand mentioned one of the singer's names right before Gere mentioned it. 

I would beg you not to read any professional reviews before you see the movie.  I try to make it a point not to reveal too much or of course, the ending to a movie or book.  If you were to read a review that disclosed the ending it would totally ruin the last 15-20 minutes of the movie for you.  You can't foresee one major event taking place and it makes the last 30 minutes of the movie take one final turn. There are several scenes where you will laugh.  You will definitely need a hankie.  I took a fleece throw in with me because I knew I would freeze in the theater so when the tears came I just wiped them on my blankie.  There is a real touching mother/daughter segment that in my opinion was worth going to the movie for and I only wish they would have developed that story line a little more from that point forward. 

I love Richard Gere.  I believe he is like cheese or some may say fine wine.  I don't drink but apparently they all get better with age and ladies, he is oh so good looking.  The movie must have inspired one couple because as we were leaving they were making out in the back of the theater.  So, if you need a jump start to your love life or marriage this just might do the trick.

Would I go see the movie again?  Yes, if I  was invited to or once it comes to our Dollar Cinema.  It is definitely one that I would put in my movie collection but it's not one that I would rush out to buy on New Movie Tuesday.  Because I love to read I will probably get the book.  I think it will be interesting to compare the storylines and characters.  I'm glad I didn't read the book first.  That way I couldn't say I was disappointed with the outcome of the movie.