Ugh. The Notebook.

I finally saw this movie about a year ago after several hundred recommendations from friends and acquaintances. One friend, a good friend, warned me that I would hate it. But, somehow, he was overruled. Everyone raved about how it was the most romantic movie. Ever.

I ended up hating this movie. And, (and!) crying through the last hour of it. I was balling my eyes out thinking how sad this movie is and pissed off because the main characters aren't even that likable!

They are definitely attractive. Ryan Gosling has that hot, broody, tortured artist thing going on and Rachel McAdams is just a doll. But their on-screen characters lacked development in such a major way that I could of cared less if they ended up together.,

Ryan Gosling, as Noah Calhoun, was the more likable of the two. He climbed a ferris wheel for a date and wrote a letter every day for his high school sweetheart. Still, sweet does not an interesting person make. He had no depth, no intelligent lines and no interests beyond his two obsessions: an old house and Allie Hamilton.

Rachel McAdams plays Allie Hamilton, a rich and spoiled forbidden love. When forced to leave Noah Calhoun she quickly forgets about him and falls in love and becomes engaged to another rich society kid. This kid is handsome and charming and loves her. And they probably have a lot in common. Still, she ends up cheating on him with Noah and living happily ever after (until the onset of alzheimer's) living a mediocre life in the refurbished farm house she lost her virginity in.

Yes, she was adored and it's heart-wrenching that Noah gives up his life and family to live with her and read to her from the notebook of their life everyday. But, it seems like this whole movie is reliant on this tear-jerking premise to float the story. What could they have talked about? What did they have in common? What did they like to do? What happens when the passion is over? She is intelligent and artistic. He is a sweet common farm boy. This doesn't happen in real life. After the passion is over they would have been bored. And, she's a cheater!

A sad movie it is, but romantic it's not.