Film Review: ‘The Longest Ride’ is a Journey to Nowhere

CHICAGO – “The Longest Ride” is sentimental schlockmeister Nicholas Sparks’ latest attempt to remix “The Notebook.” It’s got an old man recounting lost love, handwritten letters, young lovers kissing in the rain, breakups, reunions, corny dialogue and of course those North Carolina backdrops. He’s playing all the same notes, but this time he’s lost the melody.

Rating: 1.5/5.0

The first of two love stories this time around revolves around young Wake Forest art student (Britt Robertson). She’s got two months until she leaves for the big city and heads to Manhattan for an internship at a prestigious art gallery. Her sorority sisters drag her to a bull riding event and she locks eyes with handsome cowboy Scott Eastwood (Clint’s youngest son). He’s a pro rider trying to bounce back from a debilitating injury the year before. Just like that, romance is born. But the chemistry never materializes. He looks good in cowboy gear, she looks good in cowboy boots, and they look good together in a series of North Carolina backdrops.

When the main love story became capital “D” for dull, I began to think about the inappropriate borderline creepy behavior of the characters. On their first date he brings her flowers, then refuses to tell her where they’re going, and then takes her out to a remote spot in the middle of nowhere for what? A ritual killing? Nope, it’s takeout Bar-B-Q. And then they talk about nail polish. She’s supposed to be skeptical with one foot already in the Big Apple, but she’s a remarkably easy pushover even by Sparks standards.

“The Longest Ride” opens everywhere on April 10th. Featuring Scott Eastwood, Britt Robertson, Jack Huston, Oona Chaplin, Alan Alda and Lolita Davidovich. Screenplay adapted by Craig Bolotin, from the novel by Nicholas Sparks. Directed by George Tillman Jr. Rated “PG-13”