There’s some that will judge if a comedy is good or not depending on how many times they laughed during the film. You hear people exclaim, “That movie sucked. I barely laughed at it all.” For a horror film some might say it’s based on the amount of times it scared them or how many times they jumped out of their seat. That being said, should we enact a rating scale for sad romance films, like for example how many tissues you go through during the film? “Oh my gawd! I couldn’t stop crying. I give it 4 out of 5 tissues.” This is the second film to have come out in 2 months time (it’s been a sad summer) to focus on a life and death situation involving a young girl. Audiences seem to love drowning in their own tears considering how well THE FAULT IN OUR STARS did at the box-office earlier this summer. The adaptation of the popular teen book soared with filmgoers and kept theater custodians busy mopping the floors after all the crying had stopped. IF I STAY comes on the tail end of that film’s success, hoping to attract the same audiences who enjoy having their heartstrings being pulled. And even though I still haven’t seen FAULT, I’m willing to bet that the same feelings people had for that previous tearjerker won’t STAY around for this new sad story.
Mia (Chloe Grace Moretz) feels like an outsider in her family. Her younger brother is an Iggy Pop tween-punker and her parents are two former rockers who often reminisce of the glory days with their friends around the kitchen table. The musical gene has been placed deep inside Mia, but her tastes lean more towards the classical. Her dreams of playing the cello at Julliard are interrupted one snowy afternoon when a tragic car accident places Mia in a limbo state between life and death. Her struggle to hold on is punctuated as we meet in flashbacks the boy who noticed her and shared a similar musical kinship: Adam (Jamie Blackley).
Director R.J. Cutler and screenwriter Shauna Cross adapt Gayle Forman’s novel in a way that the audience isn’t stuck in the hospital the entire time while Chloe meanders down the hallways in a pale, somewhat ghostly form. Frequent cuts to Mia and Adam’s relationship are employed to lighten the mood while also attempting to heighten the emotions of what’s at stake. Not all of it works though. Even before the accident, Chloe frequently mopes around and just makes angst-filled faces while we are left to assume that her parents and boyfriend “just don’t understand” because they play rock music and she likes classical. At least the male lead is quite good. Blackley feels ever the standard emo heartthrob to be expected – complete with a hipster band that he fronts. There’s a natural self-confidence to his character that never feels smug and works well as a counterpoint to Chloe’s insecure character. My main issue was that I never fully became immersed in the two’s relationship, however I will say that his band played a few songs that peaked my interest.
The last 20 minutes tries to make up for the very repetitive and cliché-ridden script that came before it. There are a few heartfelt moments scattered throughout but the majority of the genuine stuff is all found towards the end. In the role of Mia’s grandfather, Stacy Keach delivers a great monologue towards the end that actually created a lump in my throat. His passionate and moving speech at Chloe’s bedside might even bring a tear or two, even if you aren’t one of the millions of teen girls who are fans of the book.
Bouncing back and forth between flashbacks and present day creates a tiresome tone that makes the film feel much longer than it should. We see the young romance blossom through these flashbacks but so many of the scenes play out the same as the insecure girl pines after the levelheaded boy. Attempts are made to use Mia’s story as symbolism for life’s many choices and the multiple roads to travel, but the film often resorts back to what its target audience really wants – reaching for the hearts of teen girls through empty acts of “love.” IF I STAY rests heavily on the audiences’ acceptance of the budding romance between Mia and Adam. And yet, I never felt enough of a spark to bring my interest back to life… and barely enough to warrant me to stay.
IF I STAY is in theaters starting August 22, 2014.
Overall: 2 out of 5
