I don’t know why I hadn’t added a category for movies yet.  I’ve written about several movies so far… and since I LOVE movies, I’m very likely to continue writing about them in the future.  So–better late than never.  This will be the first movie in my new “Family Movies” category.

If you like love stories, I recommend checking out “Nights in Rodanthe” (2008), starring Diane Lane and Richard Gere.  If I’m not mistaken, this is the third time these two have paired up on the big screen for some onscreen chemistry.  They were together in “The Cotton Club” (1984) and “Unfaithful” (2002).  Hollywood loves to put the same couples together, doesn’t it?–Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks… Angela Bassett and Lawrence Fishburne… uh… I digress…

Where was I?

Oh, yes.  “Nights in Rodanthe“.  It’s PG-13 and runs for 1 hour, 37 minutes.  It is a sweet, yet bitter tale of two brokenhearted people who meet at an inn in North Carolina (my home state).  They both learn how to pick themselves up after traumatic events and even find love again. This movie is about being inspired by love and having the “courage to be better than you are, not less”.  There is a subplot that parents with teenagers can probably relate to.  The movie does a good job at showing that even though dealing with these young adults may be challenging, they are still human and capable of receiving and giving love.  Surprising, isn’t it?

I honestly can’t give it 5/5 stars, although I’m not certain why.  Maybe it was the ending.  Maybe it was the speed with which they found themselves in love.  The hurricane just didn’t provide enough tension for them to get closer to me.  In fact, that part of the movie almost seemed forced.  I actually preferred the couple in “Unfaithful”, BUT that is NOT recommended as a “family” movie (RATED R).

Even with these bumps along the way, I think you’ll enjoy it.  I give it four (4) solid stars.  Curl up with your loved one… or your teenager and watch.  As with any good love story, you will probably need some tissues as you watch this one.