THE LAKE HOUSE (2006)
This romantic drama pairs Sandra Bullock with Keanu Reeves, for the first time since SPEED (1994). Of the two, I still prefer SPEED. But there is a lot to like about this film, which is a remake of a Korean movie entitled SIWORAE (2000).
The plot is unusual. Keanu Reeves moves into a lake house and discovers that by placing letters in the house's mailbox he can send those letters to the future, where they are received by the Sandra Bullock, the woman who will occupy the house after he leaves it. She writes back to him the same way, and based on their letters they fall in love.
The plot manages the time travel paradoxes quite well. For much of the running time, I was convinced that events and character motivations would not really add up in the end, but they do. Well, ninety percent anyway. The photography is extremely pretty but perhaps too precious. I did wonder why it should be so hard for Sandra Bullock to meet men, or why, since the characters fall in love based solely on their letters, it is necessary for them to look like movie stars. But we can agree those are sour grapes. I have a soft spot for romantic movies, and here, when all the plot elements line up at last, and it hits that age-worn bell, it still rings.
Afterwards, I asked girljim what her favorite romantic movies are. The first ones to pop into my mind were SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (1998) and YOU'VE GOT MAIL (1998). She said SAY ANYTHING (1989) and SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL (1987) (other than bits of SAY ANTHING, I don't think I've seen either one). Which leads to a question--what are your favorites?
The plot is unusual. Keanu Reeves moves into a lake house and discovers that by placing letters in the house's mailbox he can send those letters to the future, where they are received by the Sandra Bullock, the woman who will occupy the house after he leaves it. She writes back to him the same way, and based on their letters they fall in love.
The plot manages the time travel paradoxes quite well. For much of the running time, I was convinced that events and character motivations would not really add up in the end, but they do. Well, ninety percent anyway. The photography is extremely pretty but perhaps too precious. I did wonder why it should be so hard for Sandra Bullock to meet men, or why, since the characters fall in love based solely on their letters, it is necessary for them to look like movie stars. But we can agree those are sour grapes. I have a soft spot for romantic movies, and here, when all the plot elements line up at last, and it hits that age-worn bell, it still rings.
Afterwards, I asked girljim what her favorite romantic movies are. The first ones to pop into my mind were SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (1998) and YOU'VE GOT MAIL (1998). She said SAY ANYTHING (1989) and SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL (1987) (other than bits of SAY ANTHING, I don't think I've seen either one). Which leads to a question--what are your favorites?