It’s no surprise that big studio production companies are quickly grabbing hold of the rights to as many young adult novels as they can. The fan base is already there. Give them a “best-seller” and a good looking lead, and you may just have the next Twilight or The Fault in Our Stars.
Tweens are thirsting for romance that they can live vicariously through, and Chloe Grace Moretz’s latest drama will quench every young girl’s desire.
If I Stay is an adaptation of Gayle Forman’s 2009 best-seller. The film centers on Mia Hall (Moretz), a straight-lace, gifted cellist who lives in Oregon with her ultra-hip parents, Kat (Mireille Enos) and Denny (Joshua Leonard), and her little brother, Teddy (Jakob Davies). One day while Mia is practicing in school, Adam (Jamie Blackley), an up-and-coming rock star, passes by and it’s love at first listen. Be warned now, if you’re in theater with any teenage girls, Adam will cause swooning and sighing. The two go through a jagged relationship, proving that classical and rock doesn’t make for a smooth mix.
Priorities shift for Mia when she is invited to audition for Julliard but, her music and Adam become the least of her worries after a horrific car accident has caused her to fall into a coma. Anxious to know the fate of the rest of her family, Mia has an out of body experience. Her spirit roams the hospital halls and she eavesdrops on her loved ones as they try to cope and pray for her to make it through surgery. As her future begins to be uncertain, Mia is faced with a choice. She must decide if the life she’s waking up to is one worth living.
Call me a cheesy romantic, but I enjoyed this film. I am fully aware the one liners, “I see you,” and “why me?” will have plenty of people rolling their eyes. But there are certain qualities in a teenybopper romance that can always salvage the movie. The key element is your lead. Chloe Grace Moretz is a thriving young talent, and since I first saw her in 500 Days of Summer, she has only flourished in her career. Whether it’s a success like Kick-Ass or a flop like Carrie, Moretz masterfully performs in all of her projects.
Of course, what’s love without believability? Moretz and Blackley’s chemistry is hardly that of comparison to Hazel and Gus (The Fault in Our Stars), but it translates well here. Mia and Adam’s relationship isn’t forced, we get to watch them grow as a couple and care for their story, a missing quality from many recent love stories.
There is more to If I Stay than just the romance. The film also touches on how some people in your life don’t necessarily need to be blood related to be your family. If I Stay may pull at your heartstrings and shed some tears, but think of this film as more of a “doesn’t-hurt-to-see” versus a “must-see.”
Rating: 3/5