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The Choice: Nicholas Sparks' latest adaptation for Valentine's Day
“Come bother me, baby. Come bother me for the rest of your life.”
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One of the romantic scenes from “The Choice”, showing Travis Parker (Benjamin Walker) embracing Gabby Holland (Teresa Palmer) with a lush green view as background. Premiering at the perfect time to celebrate Valentine's Day, “The Choice” offers endless shots of dogs and puppies, gorgeous sunsets, twinkling stars and the sun-dappled ocean. (The Choice/-)
“Come bother me, baby. Come bother me for the rest of your life.”
Travis Parker (Benjamin Walker), a charming veterinarian at the beach town of Beaufort repeatedly says this line throughout the film to Gabby Holland (Teresa Palmer), a smart yet feisty medical student who has just moved in next door.
Though rather cheesy, the line is obviously meant to be an iconic iteration in the eleventh screen adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks romance.
Premiered at the perfect time to celebrate Valentine's Day, “The Choice” starts with a hospital scene, which has been Sparks' trademark, where Parker rushes in clutching a bouquet of flowers in his hand while looking for a mysterious lady.
Then it's a flashback to a scene where Holland has just moved in next door to Parker. The latter, who works in a veterinarian clinic owned by his dad, leads a laid-back life in the picturesque town, occasionally going fishing or throwing a barbecue with a bunch of friends and his Saint Bernard dog.
Everything from there on is quite predictable. Although Holland is all set to settle down with her long-term doctor boyfriend and Parker is in an on-and-off relationship with his high-school sweetheart Monica (Alexandra Daddario), the two succumb to an irresistible attraction and fall into each other's arms which upends both of their well-planned lives.
When the attraction between Parker and Holland starts to develop, there is actually a spark of hope that the love story will somehow turn magical, but the “I love you” and “you bother me” repeatedly declared by the couple get too sugary even for the sweetest tooth. The choice made by Holland is also introduced a bit late in the film, lacking the necessary momentum to build up an emotional reaction when Sparks' typical romantic tragedy finally takes place.
Fortunately, the film's endless shots of dogs and puppies, gorgeous sunsets, the twinkling stars and sun-dappled ocean scenery are skillfully framed and in themselves are an entertainment. (kes)
