FOREVER MY GIRL – Review

Though the day of cupid’s arrow is still a month away, that doesn’t stop the studios from trying to heat up these frigid Winter nights (and matinees). And, for at least this February 14, the holiday is claimed by Christian Gray and company (add joke about restraining cherubs). As foretold by its PG rating, this romance is pretty gentle, though it’s also based on a literary “heart-tugger”. Plus it’s got a “mighty strong” country kick with its locale and music (soundtrack and setting). so Hollywood’s hoping for a “long term relationship” rather than a one night (or single viewing) stand with FOREVER MY GIRL.

The little town of St. Augustine, Louisiana is all abuzz on this sunny warm afternoon. Home town boy Liam Page’s first CD is climbing the charts (everyone’s heard his hit song on the radio). And today he’s marrying his high school sweetheart Josie (Jessica Rothe). But as she adjusts her veil, the best man pays a visit to the bridal prep station. Seems that Liam has left word that he’ll not attend. Of course, Josie is devastated. Flash forward eight years to the present day, and Liam (Alex Roe) is a superstar, selling out huge concert venues. He’s a music sensation, and a handful for his manager Sam (Peter Cambor). Late the next morning Liam finally rises from his booze and groupie-fueled stupor. In his limo ride, the TV news report informs him of the car crash death of his hometown “best bud’ (and almost best man). Braking from his “handlers”, Liam bribes his driver to take him back to his little birth home. He arrives mid funeral service, much to the chagrin of his widowed father, Pastor Brian (John Benjamin Hickey) and shocks Josie. Crashing at his old home, Liam has Sam overnight his charge cards (and send a rental car). While he “gets his head together”, Liam tracks down the very angry Josie. Still single, she has taken over a local flower shop. On a visit there, Liam is surprised to meet Josie’s seven year-old daughter Billy (Abby Ryder Fortson), named after Liam’s late mom. Could she be his offspring? While Sam and Liam’s publicist Doris (Gillian Vigman) fret about Liam’s musical commitments, he leaves the fast lane to spent time with Billy and perhaps mend fences with her mama. But is it too late? Can the over-indulgent pampered singer finally become a responsible adult, let alone a daddy?

Despite his absence from the opening flashback sequence (he’s a runaway groom), Roe’s Liam is the film’s main focus, though he seems to be more at ease as the hard-partyin’ “honky-tonker” in his first scenes. But he does, as they say, “clean up nice”, when he returns to his roots (all the stage “sweat” is overdone, reminding us of the “on air” Albert Brooks in BROADCAST NEWS), though his discomfort never fully erodes away. Perhaps this stems from the huge hurdle he must clear in order to get us on his side, the hurdle being his big bail eight years previous. The victim of the incredibly selfish act, Josie immediately gains our sympathies, thanks to the work of rising star Rothe (one of the roomies in LA LA LAND, who also delighted us last year with her energetic lead role in HAPPY DEATH DAY). Upon his return, Rothe gives Roe a look that would destroy him a thousand times over (I imagined the eye beams from X-MEN’s Cyclops reducing him to ashes). Luckily her character warms, and Rothe shows us soaring joy as her heart finally heals. Here’s wishing her more opportunities that showcase her talents in more worthy material. Fortson is, of course, unstoppably adorable as lil’ Billy (hey, she’s the daughter of ANT-MAN, so maybe that’s a super-power), even as she’s burdened with all too mature, precious bits of dialogue (this seven year-old talks like a thirty year-old sitcom writer). Hickey is humble and sincere as the preacher papa, projecting a quiet dignity and strength, while Cambor is full of exasperation and perspiration as Liam’s show-biz daddy (rather than the cliché “woman on the phone” we’ve got the male counterpart).

Director Bethany Ashton Wolf also wrote the screenplay adaptation of Heidi McLaughlin’s best seller, keeping a tight rein on the movie’s narrative. Not having read the original novel, I’m wondering if the story meanders as much as this retelling. There are long lingering shots of the gorgeous Louisiana countryside (the tourism board must be delighted) that help establish the mood, as the plot clumsily attempts to hit the dramatic beats as it marches toward its inevitable “life is grand” final clinch. It appears that the marketing folks are going after the audience that somehow still flock to the Nicholas Sparks-inspired schlock. Unfortunately GIRL has none of the camp excesses of those flicks. I mean, there’s no real villain, no outside force scheming to keep the lovers apart, other than Josie’s too protective older brother who delivers a stern lecture to Liam. Plus there’s no big dramatic bit of action that puts the duo in jeopardy. A chaotic cook-out can’t compete with gale force wind and rain. I’m also wondering if the characters were simplified for the screen, as Josie seems far too quick to forgive and forget, even indulging in a showy “50 Shades”-style date (no chains, just a big helicopter getaway) And, as mentioned earlier, Billy’s “beyond her years” speech patterns and references (invoking RAIN MAN and JERRY MAGUIRE’s Jonathan Lipnicki) don’t work. The whole things plays out like a sub par basic cable movie, its PG rating ensuring that it won’t offend or shock. Thanks to that, FOREVER MY GIRL certainly feels like an eternity.

1 Out of 5