6/10

Sometimes the effort of the individual pieces is greater than the sum of it’s parts. That’s not to say that Nicolas Sparks newest big screen adaptation is a bad film, but instead that the film does quite well on the individual efforts of trying to play against a script that typecasts it with other Sparks failures. Director George Tillman Jr (Barbershop films) adapts this Sparks novel that centers on the star crossed love affair between Luke (Scott Eastwood), a former champion bull rider looking to make a comeback, and Sophia (Britt Robertson), a college student who is about to embark upon her dream job in New York City’s art world. As conflicting paths and different lifestyles test their relationship, Sophia and Luke make an unexpected and feateful connection with Ira (Alan Alda), whose memories of his own decades-long romance with his beloved wife  deeply inspire the young couple. The film definitely has it’s problems. Like other Sparks adaptations, there are crowd grimmacing line reads, plot conveniences that include out of nowhere tension to create conflict among our protagonists, and the repeated setting of a rich town within a mile off the coast of an ocean. With all of this considered, i actually really enjoyed “The Longest Ride”. The acting is solid among a sensual duo of Eastwood-Robertson whose on screen chemistry pulls through dialogue that we have heard far too man times. Eastwood definitely has the look and charm of a Hollywood A-lister, and i could see him making a name for himself with a last name that already casts some big shoes to fill. Alda also adds a gentle presence that pulled a smile out of me every time he was on screen. As i mentioned, the structure is a little sloppy and contrived with two stories being told at once. I honestly feel like there was enough in each story to give each respective couple their own movie. For my money, i enjoyed Alda’s story a little bit more than the young lovers. There are times when we go long spans without hearing from whatever story isn’t being told, and i think it’s something that Sparks should work on. Other films of his have taken me out of the story because the running time ran too far over, and while this film has a similar problem (2 hours), the film ends right as the developments were getting too convenient for the audience. The camera style of the film is very complimentary, especially when Luke is in the bullfighting ring. Many slowed down motion shots showcase an artsy side to a down and dirty sport that is usually anything but. There is also a sex scene in the film that is very passionately shot. It’s done so well that it almost rivals the on screen magic of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in Sparks biggest hit to date, “The Notebook”. Overall, i think this movie is solid for a date night among couples. It’s not a great movie, but it’s good enough for me to give a positive review for the first time ever for a Sparks adaptation. The film has it’s problems, but the charms of the things you wouldn’t expect make this romantic tear jerker a ride that is long, but far from the longest compared to the horrors i have faced with this writer.