Reminders of Him

Synopsis: After a perfect outing with her boyfriend, Kenna makes an unbearable mistake that sends her to prison for seven years. Hoping to rebuild her life after her release, she tries to reunite with her daughter, but her custodial grandparents refuse to let Kenna see her. She soon finds unexpected compassion from a local bar owner as their secret romance gives Kenna hope for a second chance. 

Movie Review: 

"Reminders of Him" is directed by Vanessa Caswill, and it's the latest adaptation of Colleen Hoover's book. This film tells a touching story about redemption, featuring two outstanding performances that make it one of the better adaptations of her work. It's definitely one of the most surprising movies I've watched. Maika Monroe stars as Kenna Rowan, a dedicated young woman who made a terrible mistake that landed her in prison. She's striving for a second chance and trying to turn her life around. Her performance is emotional, heartbreaking, and relatable, making you genuinely care about her, which is what made the movie resonate with me. Tyriq Withers plays Ledger Ward, a former NFL player who becomes a bar owner and falls in love with Kenna. He also delivers a strong performance as he tries to care for Kenna's daughter, adding to the film's emotional depth and making it one of his standout roles early in his career. The highlight of this movie is the romance between these two lost souls; their incredible chemistry is so romantic that I found myself rooting for them. Rudy Pankow portrays Scotty Landry, Kenna's deceased boyfriend, and while his performance is just okay since he only appears in flashbacks, it does provide some context about their past, which can make the film feel a bit dull at times. Lauren Graham and Bradley Whitford play Scotty's parents, and they both deliver solid performances, even though their roles mainly consist of looking sad and angry throughout the film. My main concern is that at times, the plot can feel a bit predictable and unrealistic, almost like a fairytale, which took me out of the experience. Still, it remains a sweet film with a meaningful message. Overall, "Reminders of Him" is a solid romance movie that tugs at the heartstrings, and I would rate it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Director: Vanessa Caswill 

Cast: Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, Lainey Wilson, Nicholas Duvernay, Jillian Walchuck, Jennifer Robertson, Zoe Kosovic, Hilary Jardine With Bradley Whitford and Lauren Graham 

Runtime: 114 Minutes