reviewed by Charity Bishop
               

It's exceptionally rare when you find a film that is both emotionally challenging and has compelling performances. Many sneered at the idea that pop star Mandy Moore could pull off the lead in a major motion picture... particularly as Jamie, the heroine of Nicholas Sparks' novel by the same name. But Mandy pulls it off and A Walk to Remember becomes one of the most touching experiences in filmmaking to come out of the city of glitz in a long time. It's a film with heart and soul... that isn't afraid to take chances. Landon Carter (Shane West) is a popular high-school senior in the small seaside town of Beaufort, North Carolina. Known for drinking on school grounds, failing his school grades, and living life in the fast lane, his world is about to be turned upside down when a good-natured prank goes array... and someone winds up in the hospital. 

 The fellow schoolboy is dared to jump from the water tower's catwalk into the lake below is knocked unconscious in the fall. Landon pulls him to shore but is too late to flee with his friends and is caught by the police. Managing to lie his way out of trouble, he gets somewhat less respect from the school principle, who is tired of the boy's shenanigans. The punishment is several weeks helping tutor under-privileged kids and participation in the annual high school play in which Jamie plays the lead. Landon is cast opposite her and the two are forced to spend time together. Jamie is the reject at school, the Christian girl who totes her Bible around, shows true compassion to one and all, and wears jumpers and dowdy sweaters. In short, she's not cool, she's unpopular, and she's not Landon's type. Circumstance throw them together when he asks her for help learning his lines.... and then shuns her publicly at school. Jamie's father is the strict Baptist minister who views Landon as a "bad seed." But Landon has seen something in Jamie that is different than his friends... some freedom of spirit that allows her to be who she is and live without fear of ridicule or torment. Despite the dowdy sweaters, she's an unusual girl... and Landon wants to know why. But to learn more, he will be forced to reckon with her suspicious father, the scorn of his closest friends... and ultimately he may risk his heart in direct disobedience to Jamie's sweet caution... "Promise you won't fall in love with me."

By nature, there are few films anymore that truly respect Christian values. We see teenagers influenced day after day by films that promote premarital sex, drinking, substance abuse, and swearing. Generally "Christians" are portrayed as Bible-thumping, homosexual-hating snobs who are ultimately the villain... or the annoying neighbor. But thankfully, this not-too-faithful adaptation of Sparks' book stays away from such biased clichés and shows a genuine respect for Christianity in general. Yes, Jamie wears dowdy sweaters... but who cares? Her heart and soul are what matters... and the lessons that she teaches and the touching viewpoints of God that she brings up are truly inspiring. She sees Him in everything... her lifelong ambition is to "witness a miracle." And despite personal problems, she never looses her faith in "God's plans for me."

Through Landon, the most unlikely candidate ever to walk the face of the earth, God sends Jamie just what she needs and has wished for. Those searching for some meaning to the title will realize at the end, in a poignant scene in a church, that the walk is not merely Landon's altering from a coarse boy to a much more gentle and sincerely loving man, but Jamie's as well. They fit hand in hand in a match made in heaven... but it's the getting there that makes this film so unique. Not once is their relationship based on sexual attraction or jealous love. Each compliment one another... Landon becomes more self-assured, and Jamie loosens up a bit. In addition, there are subtle lessons in modesty, acceptance, abstinence, and standing up for one another. In one instance, Landon's ex-girlfriend decides to take her revenge -- and passes a cruel doctored photo of Jamie around school. Why Landon finds out about his guy friends' involvement, he pops him one in front of the entire school, publicly rejects the "in crowd," and walks hand-in-hand with Jamie from the cafeteria. 

Unlike Save the Last Dance, where the good girl is reformed to the wild boy's way of thinking, this film does the opposite -- transforming the wild boy into the more conservative girl's standards. In addition, several Christian artists contributed to the excellent soundtrack. Even with all of its praiseworthy twists and turns, no film is without flaws. Christians should remember throughout we are told in the Bible not to marry non-Christians, so dating them is out of the question. Although Landon never outright agrees with Jamie's belief in God or his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his personal savior, several key scenes do imply a great change in the boy's life that could only come from submission to a Higher Power. This former bad boy can truly be earnestly loving, selfless, and sweet when he wants to be... and eventually he learns how to practice biblical love rather than forming his feelings on outer appearance or desire. 

Unfortunately, to show the difference between Jamie's sweet God-filled life and Landon's wild boy image, some language intrudes, along with mild innuendo. Some are comical, others burn the ears. As previously cited, the doctored photo is passed around school but only seen once in a brief non-graphic glimpse. (The picture is of a scantily-clad model with Mandy's face pasted on and the mocking title of "The Virgin Mary" underneath). Mocking his reading of the female part in the lead, Landon's friend accompanies his dialogue with crudely exaggerated sexual gestures. Some people won't care for it. Others will adore it. If you can last through the first ten minutes (which contains all of the objectionable content), the film is worthwhile by the closing credits. It feels like the usual lame fare at first but takes a heart-rendering and deeply touching turn. Just remember to pack the Kleenex.