The Best of Me

Wealthy girl Amanda (Liana Liberato) and Dawson, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks (Luke Bracey), fall in love. But when they meet up to honor a deceased friend 21 years later(as Michelle Monaghan and James Marsden), they are surprisingly not together. Why? We learn why in flashbacks throughout the film, as the grown-up and now married Amanda still has feelings for the one who got away. Based on a Nicholas Sparks weepy.

ClearPlay In Action!

The Best of Me somehow got a PG-13 rating, though there is implied intercourse between both the young and old version of the main couple (the latter act being adulterous if you’re keeping score). There’s also a generous dose of violent cruelty, though ClearPlay cuts the blood. Nearly 30 profanities are edited from the ClearPlayed version, which is appropriate for mature teens. But there’s also the typical Sparks message about fate-driven lovers that’s really not appropriate for anyone.

It was The Best of Me, it was the worst of movies?...

Sure, I’m not the demographic here, and fans of Sparks stories may find what they’re looking for here. The acting is okay, the bad guys are villainous because they just are, and there are tears to be had. But the story is cloying and somewhat unbelievable, and if you do cry, you may not respect yourself in the morning.

Marty Nabhan, ClearPlay Star-Crossed Reviewer

Rated PG-13 for sexuality, violence, some drug content and brief strong language; 118 mins; Directed By Michael Hoffman