One of the contemporary reviews of this movie called it first class romantic schlock, which is a compliment because that's exactly what novelist Nicholas Sparks and director Nick Cassavetes set out to create. McAdams and Gosling at the outset of their career as leads have excellent chemistry as the young lovers, and Garner and Rowlands are a couple of solid old pros in the framing story. The high point is what Cher, in Clueless, would have called a "major boinkfest" as desire long deferred is finally consummated, followed up a major confession that transforms your view of the villain of the piece. The ending is strictly by the numbers.
Review of The Notebook
