Worth Watching for Time Alone

Last weekend, my wife and I caught the movie release of The Lake House. From the reviews, we suspected it would be different.  The Arizona Republic movie reviewer tagged the movie as bad, which doesn’t make you want to run right out and see it (provided you agree with his opinion and in this case I don’t).  This film with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves released on June 16th and not even two weeks later, it’s already fading in the box office. I can tell you right away that we enjoyed the film and it contains something special—especially if you are looking for something different.

The story evolves around an independent-minded medical doctor (Sandra Bullock) who once occupied a lake home. She begins exchanging love notes with a frustrated architect (Keanu Reeves).  Through the exchange, they learn they are both living in the same house and yet separated by two years. Throughout the film, they unravel the mystery of this time separation. For most of the storyline the couple is apart and trying to figure out how this weird time warp has happened and what they can do to resolve it.

I can understand why the reviewer didn’t like it. The time situation alone in this film broke the typical conventions and expectations of the viewer. Yet the time difference also elevated this film out of the ordinary and made it a fascinating romance. It kept my attention. My feelings about the film were confirmed as the closing credits rolled and my wife turned to me and said, “I loved it.” It is a rare film that I will watch repeatedly but I suspect I could see The Lake House several times and learn something from each viewing.

With our own storytelling, we want to do something which will elevate it from the ordinary into the extraordinary.  Admittedly, it is not easy but is part of our task as writers. We need to continue to work at our craft.