CHICK FLICK! Yeah, that's what I thought too, until I actually watched the damn thing. 2004's The Notebook is pretty much one of the best romance film's you will ever see, and it isn't mixed in with elemnts of OTT comedy, or a sideplot in an action film, it is 100% romane with enough "period piece" thrown in to make it stand out.
It starts with James Garner's character in and retirement home, reading to Gena Rowlands Alzeimers ridden Mrs Calhoun, seemingly out of the kindness of his own heart. what is he reading to her you may ask? That would be the titular Notebook, and in it is the blooming love story between young Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams.
Yes this film is a period setting, yes there is a war segment, but these things are infused with the story, they aid it, help it move along. These things become a part of the characters, we don't stop to see Noah Mourne for his friend after being killed in WW2 simply because, though tragic to the character, it wasn't relevent enough in the scheme in the two lovers long and tested relationship.
Conclusion? Shakespearian set-ups like separation due to Social class are rife, but it is used well in this book adap, and unlike shit-fests like Gigli or The Sweetest Thing who need to get laughs out in order to charm you, this very sweet, very real story manages to be interesting, and touching. My 2 gripes that Ryan Gosling only has 2 facial expressions, one being "huh?" and the other being "oh". Also, the twist will come as a surprise to no-one, but again the films charm allows you to overlook that. Solid character based romance, great to watch with the Girlfriend. 7/10.
Now to go re-attach My Testicles.
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