THE LAKE HOUSE

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: brief language, thematic elements

Rated:

One of the most beautiful, touching films I have ever seen, The Lake House is the story of learning to wait. There are other lessons to be learned within its simple inspirations, but at its heart it remains a patient love story that encourages audiences not to lose hope in the seemingly insignificant moments that make up our lives.

Dr. Kate Forster (Sandra Bullock) is leaving the lake house, a beautiful chrome and glass residence suspended over the lake. The house, and her dog "Jack" have given her many precious memories, but it is time to move on, take up a permanent residency at the hospital, and find contentment in who she is. With a smile, she leaves a letter in the mailbox for the next tenant, asking them to please forward her mail and apologizing for the little quirks in the house. The young man who finds her letter is Alex Wyler (Keanu Reeves), the estranged eldest son of a world-renowned architect (Christopher Plummer), who has decided to purchase the house he lived in as a child. His father's grand creation is much like him, cold and refined, a house without being a home. Alex is puzzled with the quirks she mentioned in her letter, because they don't exist... or didn't, until he witnesses their creation one sunny afternoon.

He sends her a letter in return, sparking a flurry of notes through the mailbox in which the authors discover through trial and error that they are living two years apart. Alex is in 2004, and Kate is in 2006. Through these fun, passionate, remarkable letters, they are falling in love, and in the meantime, they are sharing the same memories, the same dog, and seeing one another through their darkest hour. Alex is attempting to reconcile with his father, and Kate's former boyfriend has once again walked into her life with open arms. There are so many chances, but as many obstacles in their way, and their attempt to fool time and fulfill fate might prove impossible.

There is very little content-wise to be concerned about. There are a few references to couples spending the weekend together, but nothing is shown or implied. Violence consists of a car accident that leaves one man dead in the street. Language is almost nonexistent, but does include two unfortunate abuses of Christ's name, one muffled GD, and a couple of s**t. There are some thematic elements dealing with the loss of loved ones, and how painful it is for a child to have an emotionally absent father. Some social drinking appears in various scenes. It is rare I walk out of a theatre and hear everyone in the hall saying how much they loved the same movie. There were women wiping away a few tears, and the men were contemplative and quiet. Few films have this ability to influence, much less leave a lingering impression.

The Lake House may seem simply a modern day fairy tale, in which two people fall in love through the use of a "magic mailbox," but can also be used as a metaphor for life; for those waiting for that special person to appear, it's a message of hope. Sandra and Keanu have not been in a film together since Speed, and in that thriller there was little time for romantic sparks, but here they are magnificent. I have never desperately wanted two characters to be together more, nor cried when it became possible. The screenplay is beautiful and while yes, I did start figuring out things fairly early on, it was the journey that got us there that remains important. It's one of those meaningful little movies that leaves you feeling happy when all is said and done, and makes you want to share it with someone special.