Film Review: The Last Song

Ronnie Miller didn’t want to be there. The last place she envisioned herself for the summer after graduation was spending time with her estranged dad and brother in Georgia. What she really wanted was her freedom and her friends. The unforgettable story of Ronnie and her rollercoaster summer that will forever change the way she views her life and her father. The Last Song, directed by Julie Ann Robinson features Miley Cyrus in a role different from anything she’s ever done before. A coming-of-age story set on the coast of Georgia that will test the limits of growing up, a loss that will forever change everything and a love that could last throughout the time.

While visiting her father, played by Greg Kinnear, for the first time since he left their family she is bitter and angry with what he’s done. Then she meets Will (Liam Hemsworth), a local boy who’s set on winning Ronnie’s affection. Though their meeting was anything but fairytale, after a bout with saving sea turtles, their affection grows for each other and becomes a love story for all. Throughout the course of the summer she experiences her first love, heartache and heartbreak as she comes to term with what’s happening with her world and everybody’s around her.  While dealing with a shop-lifting accusation, and the unwanted company of an outsider, Ronnie and her father become closer and her love for the piano slowly returns.  After an incident at Will’s sister’s wedding, Ronnie finds out something that could change her and Will’s relationship forever. On top of her father becoming ill, Ronnie isn’t sure she’ll be able to forgive him – until she realizes her love for him runs too deep to ignore.

Miley Cyrus surprises a lot of people when it came to her portrayal of Ronnie. Even though popular author Nicholas Sparks originally wrote the novel and the screenplay with Cyrus in mind, there were doubts. Overall, she was able to capture the spirit of Ronnie, a teenager who’s confused and angry with the way her life is going. The emotions were present and prevailing as the audience becomes fully enthralled with the love story she is presenting to her audience. This coming-of-age film allows Cyrus to step out of her Hannah Montana franchise and make her way towards a potentially career orientated film role. 

For Australian actor’s Liam Hemsworth’s debut in a major movie, he did a superb job in bringing the character of Will Blakelee to life. With his Hollywood good looks and small-town appeal in his personality, he has girls of all ages swooning. His character portrayed a guy that anybody could fall in love with – as well as Cyrus herself. Although Greg Kinnear and Bobby Coleman's characters as Steve and Ronnie’s little brother, Jonah, were secondary, they rounded out the film and brought in the humour that had everybody laughing out loud. Jordan’s cute comments and little-kid attitude had the audience wrapped around his finger from the beginning and had them in tears by the end of the film.

The cinematography is always something that I look at, whether it is intentional or not. It’s hard not to notice when scenes are cut short, characters aren’t fully developed and there are unanswered questions. Although the dialog is definitely crucial in films, so is the execution of the camera. Although this is British director Julie Ann Robinson’s first time directing a big time movie, her vision is clear cut and precise. She doesn’t miss a beat as she captures the gorgeous coastal scenes of Georgia, the evolving love between Cyrus and Hemsworth’s characters, as well as the conflict that arises in the end. She is able to capture everything that is important and leave out the stuff that isn’t.

Although this movie is very well done, there are still a few setbacks that must be acknowledged. Viewers may beg to differ, but speaking for those who have read the novel, there were key elements that should have been addressed in the film. For one, the character of the “Reverend” in the novel was a key part of what made Greg Kinnear’s character tick. Their friendship was meaningful and a big part of what made Steve’s character memorable. Another thing that seemed to define the book as well as what kind of person Will was, was when the character Blaze gets into some serious trouble with her ex boyfriend – when Will comes to the rescue, saving her from harm.  The last is the ending. Although not amazingly different, I feel that the impact of the ending in the movie would have made for a more romantic setting!

Overall, the movie is well done and I was definitely more impressed then I thought I would. To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure Cyrus would pull off the role as well as she did and there were often times I waited for her to screw up. Although her acting wasn’t pristine, she’s come a far cry from her day’s on Hannah Montana, and it shows. Her transition from teen star to an established adult actress is coming along nicely, and if she keeps picking roles such as The Last Song, she may possibly have a long and healthy career in the film industry. 

I couldn’t help but become caught up in the romance and brought to tears at the end. With the help of a great cast and a great script from Nicholas Sparks, the book was brought to life in more ways than one. Anybody who’s a Nicholas Sparks fan or a fan of Cyrus will fully enjoy the movie and in turn recommend it to every girlfriend they know. A “chick flick” through and through, the movie will have you laughing, bring you to tears and make you want to go home and hug your family.

**** (out of five)

Written by: Taryn McElheran

*(Not worth anything) ** (Possibly rent-worthy) *** (Theatre worthy –at least once) **** (Must see) *****(Must see if your life depended on it)