The songs are at least OK, and musically quite rich - rich enough to bring me to the VOD. The leads are fine, but not (in my opinion) quite as good as some critics. Both voices sound a bit strident to me. But the movie is one of the more unpleasant experiences I've had with a musical.
Why? Because in my view, it's an absolutely abysmal premise for a romance. I noted 'spoiler' in my heading, but it really isn't much of one - every review will tell you of the narrative device in the plot, which is that the woman tells the tale in reverse, the man in conventional chronological order. Since the first song ("I'm Still Hurting", one of the better ones) is the break-up song, the audience knows from the get go that it didn't work out - and then has to endure 90 minutes of stops and starts, dashed hope and expectations, missed communications, etc. Who needs this?
Love stories are about hope, I blush to say - and when you leave none in the mix, you are setting up the story to fail, no matter how gifted the composer or performers. And that's what happens. It's just a depressing, downbeat experience, and no way to put it any differently.
Why? Because in my view, it's an absolutely abysmal premise for a romance. I noted 'spoiler' in my heading, but it really isn't much of one - every review will tell you of the narrative device in the plot, which is that the woman tells the tale in reverse, the man in conventional chronological order. Since the first song ("I'm Still Hurting", one of the better ones) is the break-up song, the audience knows from the get go that it didn't work out - and then has to endure 90 minutes of stops and starts, dashed hope and expectations, missed communications, etc. Who needs this?
Love stories are about hope, I blush to say - and when you leave none in the mix, you are setting up the story to fail, no matter how gifted the composer or performers. And that's what happens. It's just a depressing, downbeat experience, and no way to put it any differently.