"Every path you take leads to another choice. Some choices change everything." Travis (Walker) is a confirmed bachelor who loves being single and doing what he wants. When his new neighbor Gabby (Palmer) shows up at his house everything in him changes. Now Travis will stop at nothing to be with her. After all his pursuits he finally wins her over, but when the unthinkable happens Travis must once again make a choice that will affect both of their lives forever. Going in to this I was not excited at all. I know 99% of women love the Nicholas Sparks movies, but for me they are just too ridiculous. In the Notebook the main guy builds the woman he is obsessed with a house. In The Lucky One within a week of meeting the girl he fixes her car, boat and teaches her son to play baseball. It is hard for me to get past the perfect man image that is portrayed and they really lose me. Again, being a guy I am not the target audience for these movies. All that said this was, to me, the best of all the movies made from his books. The characters were actually real and believable. There were no over the top scenes and I was actually into this movie more than I expected. Without ruining anything, the ending did get over the top cheesy for me and lost me a little, but since this is a chick flick that is to be expected. Overall, it could have been because of my expectations but this was not a bad movie at all and is a date night movie women will love and men will be able to watch without too much pain. I surprisingly, extremely surprisingly, give this an A-.
168 Reviews
"...some choices change everything..."
Brucey_D4 January 2019
In the opening scenes of this film we see Travis (Walker) mulling over an unknown choice he has to make, en route to hospital, flowers in hand. Most of the film depicts the events leading up to this point.
Now, I stumbled on this film by idly setting it to record on a PVR (without knowing the slightest thing about it) and then watching it later on. To be honest when I usually do this, it is about 50:50 whether I bother to watch it at all; quite a few films get deleted without ever being seen all the way through; this percentage goes right up if it is what might be termed a 'chick flick' of merely average quality. However in this case, right from the start, I thought this was a well-crafted film, beautifully photographed and with a good soundtrack. I won't say I was hooked but I was sufficiently intrigued to watch it all the way through and to my surprise I was rather moved by it.
So my advice is that you should start watching this film with no prior knowledge and no expectations whatsoever; however if you are reading this it may already be too late, you may have already been told the main plot points, that the movie is terribly formulaic, yada yada yada. Too bad; watching a film is all about suspension of disbelief; this film is no different to most in that respect, and I'd argue that this one is best approached with almost no prior knowledge or expectations of any kind.
Maybe one or two expectations are OK; that of the North Carolina coastline being beautifully photographed as a backdrop to this film, and a nice soundtrack, not too much in your face. All movies paint a certain, usually somewhat unrealistic, view of reality, and this film is no exception; for example I don't think the coastline is ever filmed at low tide, when it is somewhat less, er, photogenic. The whole film is arguably similarly rendered, which hardly unusual and is the storyteller's prerogative, even though some folk might object to it.
Maybe if you are a chap who wants a movie to settle down and watch one evening in the company of a significant other, this would be a good choice; with too much prior knowledge (and a cynical head on) it would be easy to dismiss it as formulaic and schmaltzy, but if you are in the right mood this is a heartwarming, life-affirming story, nicely told. If I'd read half the reviews on here beforehand I probably wouldn't have bothered to watch this film at all, but I didn't and I judged it on its own merits, and to my great surprise it gets seven out of ten from me.
Now, I stumbled on this film by idly setting it to record on a PVR (without knowing the slightest thing about it) and then watching it later on. To be honest when I usually do this, it is about 50:50 whether I bother to watch it at all; quite a few films get deleted without ever being seen all the way through; this percentage goes right up if it is what might be termed a 'chick flick' of merely average quality. However in this case, right from the start, I thought this was a well-crafted film, beautifully photographed and with a good soundtrack. I won't say I was hooked but I was sufficiently intrigued to watch it all the way through and to my surprise I was rather moved by it.
So my advice is that you should start watching this film with no prior knowledge and no expectations whatsoever; however if you are reading this it may already be too late, you may have already been told the main plot points, that the movie is terribly formulaic, yada yada yada. Too bad; watching a film is all about suspension of disbelief; this film is no different to most in that respect, and I'd argue that this one is best approached with almost no prior knowledge or expectations of any kind.
Maybe one or two expectations are OK; that of the North Carolina coastline being beautifully photographed as a backdrop to this film, and a nice soundtrack, not too much in your face. All movies paint a certain, usually somewhat unrealistic, view of reality, and this film is no exception; for example I don't think the coastline is ever filmed at low tide, when it is somewhat less, er, photogenic. The whole film is arguably similarly rendered, which hardly unusual and is the storyteller's prerogative, even though some folk might object to it.
Maybe if you are a chap who wants a movie to settle down and watch one evening in the company of a significant other, this would be a good choice; with too much prior knowledge (and a cynical head on) it would be easy to dismiss it as formulaic and schmaltzy, but if you are in the right mood this is a heartwarming, life-affirming story, nicely told. If I'd read half the reviews on here beforehand I probably wouldn't have bothered to watch this film at all, but I didn't and I judged it on its own merits, and to my great surprise it gets seven out of ten from me.
Perfect cozy night with wife Chick Flick
Bloomquist1819 June 2016
I usually don't write reviews, but this movie was fantastic. The movie pulled at your heart throughout the entire movie. Its funny, sexy, and sad with a case of real life thrown in for good measure. The characters are fantastic, and the setting on the coast if beautiful. Did you ever have that real love in your live, and you could feel it slipping away, well this is the movie for you. What did you do to get it back, or to try and get it back? Did you walk away and say it wasn't meant to be, or did you fight for it? Did you give it your all? Well, take a watch of this one, and see what happens. You will be glad you went for a spin. Be prepared for a roller coaster for ups and downs on the emotional scale. In the end, can you make The Choice?
Enjoyable Love Story
claudio_carvalho26 November 2016
In a small coastal town, the veterinarian Travis Shaw (Benjamin Walker) works with his father Shep (Tom Wilkinson) and is very close to his beloved sister Steph (Maggie Grace). Travis is very successful with the women and dates Monica (Alexandra Daddario) every now and then. When the resident Gabby Holland (Teresa Palmer) moves to the next door house, she initially believes he is a pretentious man. But when her boyfriend Ryan MacCarthy (Tom Welling), who is fellow doctor in the same hospital where she works, needs to travel to another city, Gabby and Travis have a relationship and fall in love with each other. Out of the blue, Ryan returns and proposes to marry her. Now Gabby has to make a choice between her two loves.
"The Choice" is enjoyable love story with nice characters divided in two parts, beginning with a witty romance and ending with a heartbreaking drama. Teresa Palmer is the greatest attraction and never disappoints. The fat Tom Welling surprises those that followed the "Smalville" series. The unknown Benjamin Walker has a good performance and his declaration of his love to Gabby's family is the best part of this film. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "A Escolha" ("The Choice")
"The Choice" is enjoyable love story with nice characters divided in two parts, beginning with a witty romance and ending with a heartbreaking drama. Teresa Palmer is the greatest attraction and never disappoints. The fat Tom Welling surprises those that followed the "Smalville" series. The unknown Benjamin Walker has a good performance and his declaration of his love to Gabby's family is the best part of this film. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "A Escolha" ("The Choice")
A Textbook Romantic Drama – whatever that's suppose to mean.
supatube4 February 2016
Another Nicholas Sparks' (The Notebook) novel adapted for the screen where there's some love, some sadness, some happiness and a dash of mystery. 'The Notebook' was such a captivating love story that it cemented Mr sparks word on romance as the only word. The many mediocre stories that followed proved otherwise. Perhaps it's in the medium and the storyteller's ability to take the novel and turn it into a successful screenplay? But 'The Last Song', where Mr Sparks flexed his screenplay talents, is without a doubt the worst of the bunch.
Neighbours, Travis and Gabby, meet as most annoying neighbours meet, in a heated engagement over noise, which quickly turns from outrage to mild intrigue to full on schoolyard-smitten.
She's a doctor to be from a wealthy family and he a vet from modest upbringings – complete with a southern accent even though neither his sister nor father shares this accent. How peculiar. Was Benjamin Walker merely flexing his craft for accents or was it that nobody wants to hear Tom Wilkinson attempt a southern accent? And then how does one make the creative decision, do we remove the southern charm or remove Tom Wilkinson? You remove neither and pretend no one will notice, which, as you can see, totally worked. Smooth transition, my foreign soul totally couldn't tell that the Parks family don't share a familial speech pattern. But major digression there.
So, the doctor to be and the wild and crazy animal doctor – I know right, a wild and crazy vet because that's so common to find – more digression.
So, they flirt over a litter of puppies and with a few smooth moves are engulfed in the intoxication of the other. Things seem to be moving on swimmingly until things stop moving along swimmingly. Mainly because it gets a little boring. Or a lot boring, depending on the type of person you are. But the boredom is there, how much you want to drink up is entirely up to you. I personally could have had fifteen per cent less and a tad more T&A but apparently there's more romance in the awkward middle than the sexy beginning.
Give or take a few captivating moments, 'The Choice' is not as moving as 'The Notebook', nor is it as sexy as "The Longest Ride" but it is nowhere near as brain-dead as "The Last Song" – take that for what its worth.
Neighbours, Travis and Gabby, meet as most annoying neighbours meet, in a heated engagement over noise, which quickly turns from outrage to mild intrigue to full on schoolyard-smitten.
She's a doctor to be from a wealthy family and he a vet from modest upbringings – complete with a southern accent even though neither his sister nor father shares this accent. How peculiar. Was Benjamin Walker merely flexing his craft for accents or was it that nobody wants to hear Tom Wilkinson attempt a southern accent? And then how does one make the creative decision, do we remove the southern charm or remove Tom Wilkinson? You remove neither and pretend no one will notice, which, as you can see, totally worked. Smooth transition, my foreign soul totally couldn't tell that the Parks family don't share a familial speech pattern. But major digression there.
So, the doctor to be and the wild and crazy animal doctor – I know right, a wild and crazy vet because that's so common to find – more digression.
So, they flirt over a litter of puppies and with a few smooth moves are engulfed in the intoxication of the other. Things seem to be moving on swimmingly until things stop moving along swimmingly. Mainly because it gets a little boring. Or a lot boring, depending on the type of person you are. But the boredom is there, how much you want to drink up is entirely up to you. I personally could have had fifteen per cent less and a tad more T&A but apparently there's more romance in the awkward middle than the sexy beginning.
Give or take a few captivating moments, 'The Choice' is not as moving as 'The Notebook', nor is it as sexy as "The Longest Ride" but it is nowhere near as brain-dead as "The Last Song" – take that for what its worth.
Great movie
michelleclement-175935 December 2018
Watching paint dry, by-the-numbers
sesht5 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Well, welcome to the assembly line. Where the pick-up/proposal line of the day is 'Bother me all my life, come be my wife'.
I did ask for it, heading to this one on the big screen in this season, but then, perhaps not, since Sparks has had decent flicks to his credit, not the least being 'Message in a bottle', or 'The notebook' (even 'A walk to remember' had its moments, to be fair).
First, the good parts, which barely pass muster: a good-looking lead pair (Walker, hot off 'In the heart of the sea' and our very own 'Abe Lincoln: Vampire hunter'n and Kristen Stewart stand-in Teresa Palmer), lush visuals and locations, across the Carolinas (or what stands in for those) albeit low-rent to a T, supporting actors slumming for their paychecks (Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Grace...) propping this up a few notches, from its deserved status as a made- for-TLC movie (in hindsight, perhaps they shouldn't have signed on?)....and some of the background score is passable too....And I confess, Palmer and Daddario are easy on the eyes, while there's something about Grace.....(more on that below)
The bad parts? Everything else. From the predictability of the plot, to the very badly written lines (how did the actors keep a straight face for most of it...I'm sure there's a blooper reel in there someplace), to the entire 3d act, which almost makes a case for how not to make your flick/novel/plot/screenplay/story predictable/by- the-numbers, and reflecting on the bad days that Smallville's Tom Welling is having to see after the demise of his TV series. Ben Walker and Tessa Palmer can survive this, so can Wilkinson, but can Welling? Now, Maggie Grace. Won't deny she's got talent, or a frigging good agent. There's something about the time she spends on the screen that just....makes one want (right since she was 'Lost', and then, ahem, 'Taken' thrice) to close your eyes and shut your ears, while shuddering all the time. This outing of her's is no different.
In spite of the decent parts described above, this one's predominantly a complete waste of time, effort and money.....but there's an audience for such cinema, for sure.....
I did ask for it, heading to this one on the big screen in this season, but then, perhaps not, since Sparks has had decent flicks to his credit, not the least being 'Message in a bottle', or 'The notebook' (even 'A walk to remember' had its moments, to be fair).
First, the good parts, which barely pass muster: a good-looking lead pair (Walker, hot off 'In the heart of the sea' and our very own 'Abe Lincoln: Vampire hunter'n and Kristen Stewart stand-in Teresa Palmer), lush visuals and locations, across the Carolinas (or what stands in for those) albeit low-rent to a T, supporting actors slumming for their paychecks (Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Grace...) propping this up a few notches, from its deserved status as a made- for-TLC movie (in hindsight, perhaps they shouldn't have signed on?)....and some of the background score is passable too....And I confess, Palmer and Daddario are easy on the eyes, while there's something about Grace.....(more on that below)
The bad parts? Everything else. From the predictability of the plot, to the very badly written lines (how did the actors keep a straight face for most of it...I'm sure there's a blooper reel in there someplace), to the entire 3d act, which almost makes a case for how not to make your flick/novel/plot/screenplay/story predictable/by- the-numbers, and reflecting on the bad days that Smallville's Tom Welling is having to see after the demise of his TV series. Ben Walker and Tessa Palmer can survive this, so can Wilkinson, but can Welling? Now, Maggie Grace. Won't deny she's got talent, or a frigging good agent. There's something about the time she spends on the screen that just....makes one want (right since she was 'Lost', and then, ahem, 'Taken' thrice) to close your eyes and shut your ears, while shuddering all the time. This outing of her's is no different.
In spite of the decent parts described above, this one's predominantly a complete waste of time, effort and money.....but there's an audience for such cinema, for sure.....
Typical Nicholas Sparks film
missville-818973 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
My husband and I had the opportunity to win screening tickets to "The Choice". Having seen several Nicholas Sparks book-to-movies before I knew what I was signing up for.
"The Choice" follows Travis (described as a "ladies man" but not, in my opinion, a devout "ladies man"- more like a guy who makes poor relationship choices) and medical student Gabby, whose lives as next- door neighbors eventually lead to something more.
The first half of the movie was slow and rather bland, with stilted dialogue, characters who remained devoid of any development, and wooden acting on the part of Teresa Palmer. She grated on my nerves for most of the film until I realized her speaking style was the same as many young women throughout the USA. The real star of the film, however, was Benjamin Walker. His authenticity and easygoing attitude shone through every scene he had. The second half of the movie picked up the pace, the tugging at the heartstrings, the laughs, and was thoroughly more enjoyable; At that point, it seemed as though the movie wasn't trying so hard to impress the audience.
Like I said, once you've seen a Nicholas Sparks movie, you sorta know what to expect. There were a few highly memorable scenes where the dialogue and acting surpassed the tropes and formulas- namely the kitchen scene, and the confrontation at the dockside restaurant.
Overall, it was an enjoyable movie if you want a love-story that you know will do its best to make you tear up. Keep an eye out for Benjamin Walker; I hope to see him in more projects.
Oh, one more thing: Chihuahuas are not at all similar to Golden Retrievers. As someone who worked in the animal field, I don't understand how the director and crew didn't make more of an effort when the dogs and veterinarians figured so prominently in the plot.
"The Choice" follows Travis (described as a "ladies man" but not, in my opinion, a devout "ladies man"- more like a guy who makes poor relationship choices) and medical student Gabby, whose lives as next- door neighbors eventually lead to something more.
The first half of the movie was slow and rather bland, with stilted dialogue, characters who remained devoid of any development, and wooden acting on the part of Teresa Palmer. She grated on my nerves for most of the film until I realized her speaking style was the same as many young women throughout the USA. The real star of the film, however, was Benjamin Walker. His authenticity and easygoing attitude shone through every scene he had. The second half of the movie picked up the pace, the tugging at the heartstrings, the laughs, and was thoroughly more enjoyable; At that point, it seemed as though the movie wasn't trying so hard to impress the audience.
Like I said, once you've seen a Nicholas Sparks movie, you sorta know what to expect. There were a few highly memorable scenes where the dialogue and acting surpassed the tropes and formulas- namely the kitchen scene, and the confrontation at the dockside restaurant.
Overall, it was an enjoyable movie if you want a love-story that you know will do its best to make you tear up. Keep an eye out for Benjamin Walker; I hope to see him in more projects.
Oh, one more thing: Chihuahuas are not at all similar to Golden Retrievers. As someone who worked in the animal field, I don't understand how the director and crew didn't make more of an effort when the dogs and veterinarians figured so prominently in the plot.
Even though this film was quite predictable
blrnani1 January 2021
I found the journey delightful. And let's be fair, it isn't easy choosing between Superman and Travis and one of several questions raised is whether the latter's southern charm and wit will win through in the end. And of course the journey's not going to be a smooth one and it is advisable to have plenty of paper tissues handy for the last 20 minutes or so.
While the leads were charming, the supporting cast were also excellent. In all, a lovely film that is perfect for a romantic occasion.
I've always enjoyed that Boy George song, which begins, "Coma, coma, coma, coma, come, a comedian . . . "
oscaralbert9 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
. . . so naturally there's nothing but good things to say about Nicholas Sparks' latest flick, THE CHOICE. This film has all the hallmarks that fans have come to expect from a Sparks yarn. A family of veterinarians mixed up with TWO families of doctors! A womanizing atheist preacher's son! Class conflict, in which the Poor People's Pawn owns a half million dollar speed boat, a private island, scenic beach-front property, a professional degree, and a piece of the family business! The threat of second-generation widowers and second-generation kids Shorn of a parent! A main character's car suddenly T-boned with NO WARNING AT ALL on a dark, stormy night! Sex on the kitchen table! An approaching hurricane which may decide to "pull the plug" when no one else can! A snapshot from Yesteryear which may change everything! Free Will versus PreDetermination! Fiances and fiancées dumping like flies! Pets bringing people together! Quirks of Fate which open Family Size cans of "What If's." Wondering which main character may get a vital organ transplant (and what will cause them even to need one) IF the plug is pulled! Every AARP card-carrying White woman in America must run--not walk--to see THE CHOICE! See it ASAP!
The dog, Moby was the most credible character in the movie.
kelly-8978913 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
If you are looking for a movie you can zone out during this is the one for you! The Choice once again delivered Nicholas Sparks tried-and-tested formula, full of Hallmark moments oh and not forgetting a basket full of puppies!! Only this time it felt a bit like a check list. Boy meets girl ✓ Girl is not interested in boy ✓ Boy and girl get together ✓ Boy takes girl out in a rowing boat ✓ Boy and girl split up ✓ Boy and girl get back together ✓ etc etc etc
The problem is whilst the screen writer and director are ticking off the list they forgot to make it credible. (I felt incredibly sorry for Gabby's dog who gives birth to puppies who look about 8 weeks old OUCH!!)
I will say that in the cinema there were a group of girls around 14 years old all ahhing, laughing, crying and clapping so I guess I now know which audience this movie is aimed at.
Would I recommend my friends go see this movie? No but I would tell them to watch it on TV if they were looking for something to watch and fill time.
The problem is whilst the screen writer and director are ticking off the list they forgot to make it credible. (I felt incredibly sorry for Gabby's dog who gives birth to puppies who look about 8 weeks old OUCH!!)
I will say that in the cinema there were a group of girls around 14 years old all ahhing, laughing, crying and clapping so I guess I now know which audience this movie is aimed at.
Would I recommend my friends go see this movie? No but I would tell them to watch it on TV if they were looking for something to watch and fill time.
Good Love Story
brutzel2 June 2016
Veterinarian Travis Shaw (Benjamin Walker) falls in love with his new neighbor and medical student Gabby (Teresa Palmer). They marry, have kids and there is an accident and one of them has to make a life and death Choice. Hey, you did see the title of this, right?
Just like you need - from time to time - a really good, tasty cheeseburger you also need – from time to time- to watch a really good love story to let you know there is more to life than that really good, tasty cheeseburger. (stop already, I'm getting hungry) Having relative newcomers star in this makes everything seem more real than having seasoned actors star because we are not sure what the newcomers are going to do next.
This goes along at a good pace as the relationship builds with good flirty dialogues and really good serious dialogues later on. If truth be told we see that the serious dialogues prove to be the real winners in here. Also, the intensity in Travis' eyes from time to time when he looks at Gabby reminded me of the intensity of Bubba Watson's (pro golfer) eyes as he contemplates his next shot. And it is here we see something more real than was anticipated. And, of course, because Gabby is very pretty, the chemistry between them is spot on. (you falling in love again?)
Notables: It was nice to see Tom Welling as Ryan, the boyfriend before Travis. I hardly recognized him as he had bulked up to such a degree he could now play Superman (he played a young Clark Kent in the TV Smallville series). And Tom Wilkinson as Shep, Travis' doctor father.
This is very enjoyable and yet, we know an accident will happen later on and someone has to make a choice and everything is intensified. Keep a box of Kleenex handy as you are going to need it.
This movie is on par with THE BEST OF ME, by the same author Nicholas Sparks. (9/10)
Violence: Yes, the accident. And Ryan does punch Travis. Sex: Yes, but nothing graphic. Nudity: No. Language: No.
Just like you need - from time to time - a really good, tasty cheeseburger you also need – from time to time- to watch a really good love story to let you know there is more to life than that really good, tasty cheeseburger. (stop already, I'm getting hungry) Having relative newcomers star in this makes everything seem more real than having seasoned actors star because we are not sure what the newcomers are going to do next.
This goes along at a good pace as the relationship builds with good flirty dialogues and really good serious dialogues later on. If truth be told we see that the serious dialogues prove to be the real winners in here. Also, the intensity in Travis' eyes from time to time when he looks at Gabby reminded me of the intensity of Bubba Watson's (pro golfer) eyes as he contemplates his next shot. And it is here we see something more real than was anticipated. And, of course, because Gabby is very pretty, the chemistry between them is spot on. (you falling in love again?)
Notables: It was nice to see Tom Welling as Ryan, the boyfriend before Travis. I hardly recognized him as he had bulked up to such a degree he could now play Superman (he played a young Clark Kent in the TV Smallville series). And Tom Wilkinson as Shep, Travis' doctor father.
This is very enjoyable and yet, we know an accident will happen later on and someone has to make a choice and everything is intensified. Keep a box of Kleenex handy as you are going to need it.
This movie is on par with THE BEST OF ME, by the same author Nicholas Sparks. (9/10)
Violence: Yes, the accident. And Ryan does punch Travis. Sex: Yes, but nothing graphic. Nudity: No. Language: No.
The Least Surprising of the Nicholas Sparks Books-to-film Adaptations...but still worth watching thanks to the two leads
terrellrobinson7110 May 2016
Forgive me for saying this, but I'm a sucker for love stories. I'm more familiar with the Nicholas Sparks brand because I remember the first time I actually got involved with his stories and that was "A Walk to Remember". It's been 14 years since that wonderful movie and 17 years since his first book-to-film being "Message in a Bottle" and it seems that the Sparks brand is still going and so far, he has written 18 books with one more coming out later this year and 11 of his books has been translated to the screen. The 11th is the more recent one and that is "The Choice". Now, I'll be honest. We know where this stuff is going, we know that it's predictable and we know where the twists are at. Still, "The Choice" is an impressive movie and what made me chose this movie are the two stars that made me smile and care as two characters who have two separate choices to make in their lives. After she made a terrific lead turn in one of my favorite surprises of 2013, "Warm Bodies", the always luminous Teresa Palmer keeps that star shining even brighter as Gabby Holland, a young nurse who moves to North Carolina and is the next-door neighbor of Travis Shaw (Benjamin Walker), a veterinarian who is a fun-loving party animal who hangs out with his friends and loves to drive girls crazy. Their friendship immediately starts off on the wrong foot when Gabby's dog gets pregnant and she blames him for letting his dog impregnate her. He asks her out, she rebuffs him. Mainly that's because she has a boyfriend in Dr. Ryan McCarthy (Tom Welling), who goes out of town. Also Travis gets blind-sighted by Monica (Alexandra Daddario), the girl his friends call "the boomerang". Anyway, he takes a liking to her, even though she "bothers" him, and then their friendship turns into something more than that. Then, in the tradition of Sparks, a tragedy happens and Travis and Gabby has to make two different choices. For Gabby, which man does she want to wake up with the next morning. For Travis, it's something a little more personal that I can't reveal. Usually, I stick around for the third-act of any Sparks movies to find out what happens next, but the third-act of "The Choice" is very obvious and somewhat dry. Like I said, we know what happens throughout the story, even if the final effect turns out to be something a little different. But what saves the movie and that last act are the magnetic chemistry of Palmer and Walker. Even though they may not match the magic of Noah & Allie, Landon & Jamie, Luke & Sophia, John & Savannah....and so on, Travis & Gabby are appealing, flawed and earnest people. They do argue with one another most of the time, but there is a lot of love there for the rest of the time. These two actors have it, especially Walker (remember him as "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter"?), who shows a lot of emotions that shows up right in the final act. The movie also gets some solid support from Maggie Grace as Travis's sister, Stephanie and Tom Wilkinson, still superb as always as Dr. Shep, who is Travis's dad and also a veterinarian. It's also not afraid to show some humor in there too. Whether you think it's intentional or unintentional, well, that's your choice. I like the movie and the actors, so that's my opinion. However, I think that Mr. Sparks should try something a little more original and unpredictable. I know there's a reason why he's called the master of romance because he does appeal to the women as well as the hopeless romantics. He does produces some lavishing productions, though. I'm only hoping for it and I'm just saying.
Morals and Ethics do not matter as long as you are 'meant to be'
jeremiahnair1329 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this a few months back and recently I watched an older Nicholas Spark- novel - turned-movie. I must say the common human behavioral characteristics involved in his movies are one of lies, deception and unfaithfulness.
This movie above is no different, Gabby is a feisty medical student and Travis is an easy going vet. Gabby already has a long term relationship with a doctor with whom she cheats on, this is justified because 'fate' has chosen this to be.
This disregard for moral standards shows itself in the movie, the dialogue is very planned and almost seems unnatural for Palmer (who hides her natural accent very badly) to deliver her lines in a convincing manner, the movie tries to hide this with the usual exposing of female physique and the mid-movie romp between the main characters. Walker was a lot less convincing and overplayed his role as a Southern smooth talker and his haircut did not do him any favors there.
This is your typical Nicholas Spark big screen movie...too long and too predictable.
This movie above is no different, Gabby is a feisty medical student and Travis is an easy going vet. Gabby already has a long term relationship with a doctor with whom she cheats on, this is justified because 'fate' has chosen this to be.
This disregard for moral standards shows itself in the movie, the dialogue is very planned and almost seems unnatural for Palmer (who hides her natural accent very badly) to deliver her lines in a convincing manner, the movie tries to hide this with the usual exposing of female physique and the mid-movie romp between the main characters. Walker was a lot less convincing and overplayed his role as a Southern smooth talker and his haircut did not do him any favors there.
This is your typical Nicholas Spark big screen movie...too long and too predictable.
The Choice is a 2016 movie made from a Nicholas Sparks book.
jfshoemaker26 October 2016
The Choice (2016)
Summary:
Travis Walker is a carefree man that lives in a small town. His only responsibilities include his dog and the job he loves. He has a love for women, but is not the type of man that you would see settling down at anytime. This changes when a beautiful woman named Gabby Palmer, who has a love for dogs and a firecracker personality, moves in next door. As a rough first impression puts Travis on her bad side, he will do all it takes to win Gabby over. When Travis finally gets his way and all seems to be going as planned, the most horrible event happens. Travis is put on the spot and forced to make the hardest decision of his life. This decision will not only affect him, but most of the others in the movie also. The movie is all about the choices made in life and how to deal with the outcomes of your choices, which is a great life lesson.
Characters: 8/10
The cast in this film is overall pretty good. Most of them seem to be experienced in their field and love doing what they do, which is obvious by how well they play their parts. In some films it is obvious that the actors are inexperienced and might be trying too hard to play the part. In a good actor the part should come naturally. I only noticed an actor or two that were the so called "try hard" actors that weren't very good at playing their assigned part. For example, the character Gabby seems to over exaggerate her part throughout the movie. She plays the part with excitement, but it seems a little forced and awkward for her. Since Gabby is such a big role in the movie, I gave this section an 8 because I feel like that one character really changed the tone of the movie. The majority of the remaining cast looked very experienced.
Story Line: 9/10
For the most part, the story line was easy to follow throughout the whole film. It was not often that you felt the need to rewind and re-watch something because it did not make sense. However, this movie is a love story, so sometimes those can get slightly confusing when dealing with indecision about feelings. The love story aspect is the only thing that slightly messed with my head throughout the movie, which is why I gave it a 9 instead of a 10. Overall I really like the story line and the outcome of the movie. I think the story really flowed and was a romance pleaser. When tragedy strikes the young couple it's time to hold on and stick with it to the end. Even though this part of the story is hard to watch, its not something you will want to miss. The ending really teaches a great lesson that anyone could use in life. I feel as if the great story line takes this film out of the strictly chick flick category.
Predictability: 4/10
This film is very predictable, but this should not make someone refuse to watch it unless you absolutely hate being able to predict the end. If you are familiar with Nicholas Sparks' previous novels that have been made into films, you know that they are predictable love stories. This does not mean that the story and plot are bad, though. I gave the predictability aspect a 4/10 because I felt like I knew how it was going to end even from the beginning of the movie. There are tragedies that happen throughout that are not expected, but the ending is still pretty easy to call out. As stated above I really like the story, which is why I think even though it is predictable it is still a movie that can be enjoyed.
Overall Score: 7/10
I think that this movie is overall pretty good. The film is fit for just about anyone, even though it is a romance. I believe that anyone could get into the story line and really enjoy themselves while watching it. Yes, the story is predictable, but do not let that stop you from giving the film a chance. Many people probably will not watch it because they believe it is a chick flick, but I think that this is a silly term used and not a very good excuse to not watch a movie. However, I think that the moral of this movie is really good and everyone can learn a lesson from watching it.
If you would like to see the review that includes pictures, go to this website: http://thechoicereview.weebly.com/review.html
Summary:
Travis Walker is a carefree man that lives in a small town. His only responsibilities include his dog and the job he loves. He has a love for women, but is not the type of man that you would see settling down at anytime. This changes when a beautiful woman named Gabby Palmer, who has a love for dogs and a firecracker personality, moves in next door. As a rough first impression puts Travis on her bad side, he will do all it takes to win Gabby over. When Travis finally gets his way and all seems to be going as planned, the most horrible event happens. Travis is put on the spot and forced to make the hardest decision of his life. This decision will not only affect him, but most of the others in the movie also. The movie is all about the choices made in life and how to deal with the outcomes of your choices, which is a great life lesson.
Characters: 8/10
The cast in this film is overall pretty good. Most of them seem to be experienced in their field and love doing what they do, which is obvious by how well they play their parts. In some films it is obvious that the actors are inexperienced and might be trying too hard to play the part. In a good actor the part should come naturally. I only noticed an actor or two that were the so called "try hard" actors that weren't very good at playing their assigned part. For example, the character Gabby seems to over exaggerate her part throughout the movie. She plays the part with excitement, but it seems a little forced and awkward for her. Since Gabby is such a big role in the movie, I gave this section an 8 because I feel like that one character really changed the tone of the movie. The majority of the remaining cast looked very experienced.
Story Line: 9/10
For the most part, the story line was easy to follow throughout the whole film. It was not often that you felt the need to rewind and re-watch something because it did not make sense. However, this movie is a love story, so sometimes those can get slightly confusing when dealing with indecision about feelings. The love story aspect is the only thing that slightly messed with my head throughout the movie, which is why I gave it a 9 instead of a 10. Overall I really like the story line and the outcome of the movie. I think the story really flowed and was a romance pleaser. When tragedy strikes the young couple it's time to hold on and stick with it to the end. Even though this part of the story is hard to watch, its not something you will want to miss. The ending really teaches a great lesson that anyone could use in life. I feel as if the great story line takes this film out of the strictly chick flick category.
Predictability: 4/10
This film is very predictable, but this should not make someone refuse to watch it unless you absolutely hate being able to predict the end. If you are familiar with Nicholas Sparks' previous novels that have been made into films, you know that they are predictable love stories. This does not mean that the story and plot are bad, though. I gave the predictability aspect a 4/10 because I felt like I knew how it was going to end even from the beginning of the movie. There are tragedies that happen throughout that are not expected, but the ending is still pretty easy to call out. As stated above I really like the story, which is why I think even though it is predictable it is still a movie that can be enjoyed.
Overall Score: 7/10
I think that this movie is overall pretty good. The film is fit for just about anyone, even though it is a romance. I believe that anyone could get into the story line and really enjoy themselves while watching it. Yes, the story is predictable, but do not let that stop you from giving the film a chance. Many people probably will not watch it because they believe it is a chick flick, but I think that this is a silly term used and not a very good excuse to not watch a movie. However, I think that the moral of this movie is really good and everyone can learn a lesson from watching it.
If you would like to see the review that includes pictures, go to this website: http://thechoicereview.weebly.com/review.html
Pretty good movie (spoiler included)
bbwadmirer200729 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I mostly liked this movie but it had some things in it that made it hard to believe. The film was filmed in Wilmington NC which I love. The whole accident scene and what came after it was not realistic.If Travis made one call to his wife saying to stay put and he's running late the accident would have never happened. I guess tragedy is just part of these types of movies. Also if someone has been on breathing tube for over 90 days they just don't recover totally like Gabi did. There is always a recovery period and Rehab.Also I wish the father's story would have been covered more as well.This film is a tear jerker and I basically liked it. I just wish hospital scenes were more realistic.
Take note, book this great romance!
richardlane-5983912 January 2017
I can't believe the negative critiques!! You have a good idea before the film starts that this is going to be a romantic story so if that's not for you
then don't watch!!! I, however, wanted to see another story by the brilliant Nicholas Sparks and, even though I approached this film with a little hesitation and doubt because I didn't know the main actors, I was absolutely rewarded with a wonderful, poignant and heart-rending story which I loved. The setting is idyllic and the fabulous cinematography admirably captures this and the performances are superb
I'm not going to detail any of the story but it kept me enthralled and I'd say it's on a par (at least) with the Note Book! Bright, fun, moving and charmingly captivating.
its a great film for you romance lovers! and dog lovers!
meganhebdige24 April 2016
The choice is a romantic involving 2 main character: Travis and gabby.the film is about Travis having to make a decisions which may save gabby's life. They start off with a little friendship but it escalates very quickly as they have a very strong connection and you see the real side of them come out from being around the other person and yes for you dogs lovers there are very cute puppies in it too. The film is very intriguing and is a good film to watch.I didn't want to give it away in what happens but if you watch the trailer i'm sure you will be very curious to what happens and will want to watch. Enjoy the film if you are going to watch.
Love it
ashley_t-9281617 January 2020
OK flick if you like Nicholas Sparks adaptations
85122218 May 2016
Greetings from Lithuania.
I think people and especially critics were a little bit to harsh on "The Choice" (2016). While it as usually has many, many, many eye rolling moments (and did i say many?), predictable plot "twists", meet- cute love, some descent photography of beautiful sight seeings of the most romantic and beautiful place on Earth (accoring to Nicholas Sparks) - North Carolina - this flick isn't bad. It has more then OK acting by both leads and OK performance by a great Tom Wilkinson, some very nice pacing (at running time 1 h 44 min this movie barely drags) and ... that's pretty much it about good things.
Overall - this is corny as hell and far from the best or even good Nicholas Sparks adaptations, still this is not a bad movie to see it once, if you know what are you getting into.
I think people and especially critics were a little bit to harsh on "The Choice" (2016). While it as usually has many, many, many eye rolling moments (and did i say many?), predictable plot "twists", meet- cute love, some descent photography of beautiful sight seeings of the most romantic and beautiful place on Earth (accoring to Nicholas Sparks) - North Carolina - this flick isn't bad. It has more then OK acting by both leads and OK performance by a great Tom Wilkinson, some very nice pacing (at running time 1 h 44 min this movie barely drags) and ... that's pretty much it about good things.
Overall - this is corny as hell and far from the best or even good Nicholas Sparks adaptations, still this is not a bad movie to see it once, if you know what are you getting into.
Puppies in a basket
ferguson-64 February 2016
Greetings again from the darkness. When the word formulaic is used to describe a movie or book, it's typically meant as a disparagement. We must admit, however, that if the formula works, it only makes sense (and dollars) to stick with it. Most Hollywood blockbuster franchises are built around a basic formula – superheroes, romantic-comedies, alien invasions, etc. Author Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook) has taken his tragic-romance novel formula and turned it into big screen gold. This is the eleventh film developed from his writing, and it's likely to be another successful entry into the Sparks canon.
Director Ross Katz (Adult Beginners, 2015) is at the helm of the screenplay by Bryan Sipe (upcoming Demolition) and many of the familiar Sparks features are present. First off, the key players are all exceedingly attractive – Ralph Lauren model attractive. Secondly, there is a will they/won't they romance that will of course happen and then may fall apart, but probably won't. And third, some type of tragedy will occur that will kick off a stream of tears from a certain segment of the audience.
This one begins with a narrator's humble-brag promising to tell us the "secret of life". That narrator is Travis, played with an over-flowing abundance of southern charm by Benjamin Walker (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, 2012). His main vices are a tendency to use "damn" to the point of overkill in most every conversation, and his natural ability to attract the ladies. Oh, and he has a rescue dog and a lake house and he is a veterinarian. See, in the Sparks universe, everyone is beautiful and successful. Travis has his eye on his new neighbor, who is pretending to be annoyed but mostly admits to playing a game of hard-to-get. This is Gabby (Teresa Palmer, Warm Bodies 2013), and she is beautiful and a doctor-to-be. Gabby's current boyfriend is, of course, a handsome doctor. Ryan is played by Tom Welling (a bit heftier than his days as Clark Kent/Superman in "Smallville").
The beautiful Maggie Grace (Taken) plays Travis' sister, and Alexandra Daddario (San Andreas) plays Monica she is not only beautiful, but she is also the nicest, most understanding and supportive "other" woman ever seen on screen. Tom Wilkinson plays Travis' veterinarian dad, and Sharon Blackwood plays the wise-cracking and match-making assistant Cora. If that's not enough beauty and success for you, we also get "puppies in a basket"! Come for the chuckles and tears just not twists or surprises. Fans of this genre will get exactly what they want. It's a romantic fantasy set in the somewhat realistic world of doctors, veterinarians, and equestrians. The faces are perfect. The dialogue is snappy without being demanding (even in the God discussion). Many scenes feature loyal dogs, or a serene lake, or the "moon and stars". Even the difficult parts of life – raising kids, health issues, etc – are given the "yada, yada, yada" treatment. While Travis claims over and over that Gabby "bothers him", it's the kind of bother that creates a cryfest in the theatre whether things go right or wrong. It's also the reason that all eleven Sparks films feature a couple of lovers on the poster. Just remember, if that formula works .
Director Ross Katz (Adult Beginners, 2015) is at the helm of the screenplay by Bryan Sipe (upcoming Demolition) and many of the familiar Sparks features are present. First off, the key players are all exceedingly attractive – Ralph Lauren model attractive. Secondly, there is a will they/won't they romance that will of course happen and then may fall apart, but probably won't. And third, some type of tragedy will occur that will kick off a stream of tears from a certain segment of the audience.
This one begins with a narrator's humble-brag promising to tell us the "secret of life". That narrator is Travis, played with an over-flowing abundance of southern charm by Benjamin Walker (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, 2012). His main vices are a tendency to use "damn" to the point of overkill in most every conversation, and his natural ability to attract the ladies. Oh, and he has a rescue dog and a lake house and he is a veterinarian. See, in the Sparks universe, everyone is beautiful and successful. Travis has his eye on his new neighbor, who is pretending to be annoyed but mostly admits to playing a game of hard-to-get. This is Gabby (Teresa Palmer, Warm Bodies 2013), and she is beautiful and a doctor-to-be. Gabby's current boyfriend is, of course, a handsome doctor. Ryan is played by Tom Welling (a bit heftier than his days as Clark Kent/Superman in "Smallville").
The beautiful Maggie Grace (Taken) plays Travis' sister, and Alexandra Daddario (San Andreas) plays Monica she is not only beautiful, but she is also the nicest, most understanding and supportive "other" woman ever seen on screen. Tom Wilkinson plays Travis' veterinarian dad, and Sharon Blackwood plays the wise-cracking and match-making assistant Cora. If that's not enough beauty and success for you, we also get "puppies in a basket"! Come for the chuckles and tears just not twists or surprises. Fans of this genre will get exactly what they want. It's a romantic fantasy set in the somewhat realistic world of doctors, veterinarians, and equestrians. The faces are perfect. The dialogue is snappy without being demanding (even in the God discussion). Many scenes feature loyal dogs, or a serene lake, or the "moon and stars". Even the difficult parts of life – raising kids, health issues, etc – are given the "yada, yada, yada" treatment. While Travis claims over and over that Gabby "bothers him", it's the kind of bother that creates a cryfest in the theatre whether things go right or wrong. It's also the reason that all eleven Sparks films feature a couple of lovers on the poster. Just remember, if that formula works .
Definitely a good watch
chickletakachelsey_18821 July 2019
Good Date Movie
stevendbeard20 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I saw "The Choice", starring Benjamin Walker-In the Heart of the Sea, Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter; Teresa Palmer-Point Break_2015, Take Me Home Tonight; Alexandra Daddario-San Andreas, White Collar_tv; Tom Welling-Smallville_tv, The Fog_2015 and Maggie Grace-The Taken movies, The Fog_2015.
This is a good date night movie to take your wife or girlfriend to. It is written and produced by Nicholas Sparks-if you don't recognize that name, you probably should not be seeing this movie-and it is the 11th movie that has been based on one of his books-You have heard of 'The Notebook', right? Anyway, Benjamin plays a veterinarian with Alexandra as his present girlfriend. Teresa is studying to be a doctor with Tom as her present boyfriend. Maggie is Benjamin's sister. Teresa moves next door to Benjamin and the sparks fly; more from him at first but you can tell she likes him, too. Only problem is they are both in relationships with other people-remember Tom & Alexandra? What a dilemma! But don't worry, Mr Sparks knows a thing or two about relationship movies-he should, after 11 books-made-into-movies! I guess Mr Sparks will not be writing any super hero movies anytime soon. And be sure to bring a hanky for your date-or yourself-because there are some tears near the end. It's rated "PG-13" for some sexual content-no nudity-and some thematic elements and has a running time of 1 hour & 51 minutes. Like I said, it's not a bad date movie-I have seen worse. I don't know if I would buy it on DVD but it would be alright, as a rental.
This is a good date night movie to take your wife or girlfriend to. It is written and produced by Nicholas Sparks-if you don't recognize that name, you probably should not be seeing this movie-and it is the 11th movie that has been based on one of his books-You have heard of 'The Notebook', right? Anyway, Benjamin plays a veterinarian with Alexandra as his present girlfriend. Teresa is studying to be a doctor with Tom as her present boyfriend. Maggie is Benjamin's sister. Teresa moves next door to Benjamin and the sparks fly; more from him at first but you can tell she likes him, too. Only problem is they are both in relationships with other people-remember Tom & Alexandra? What a dilemma! But don't worry, Mr Sparks knows a thing or two about relationship movies-he should, after 11 books-made-into-movies! I guess Mr Sparks will not be writing any super hero movies anytime soon. And be sure to bring a hanky for your date-or yourself-because there are some tears near the end. It's rated "PG-13" for some sexual content-no nudity-and some thematic elements and has a running time of 1 hour & 51 minutes. Like I said, it's not a bad date movie-I have seen worse. I don't know if I would buy it on DVD but it would be alright, as a rental.
Predictable and errors
notmizbehaven21 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I was looking for a good movie on Amazon Prime, this one had 5 stars so thought it would be pretty good. The first 15 minutes are completely predictable - like they used a romance movie template. The girl's dog, which appears to be a golden retriever and looks much too old to have puppies, is pregnant and she blames his dog. Supposedly she's only lived next door a few days.
Miraculously her dog has puppies within a week or so (should have been 2 months). she desperately runs to his house for help (he's a veterinarian). He comes over to help with the birth - she disappears, then they cut back to the dog. And, imagine that - the dog had chihuahuas - yep, not even newborn ones, but ones with wide open eyes, tails wagging, and ears in the air. I'd suspect they were at least 6 months old.
Had to quit watching, I'm embarrassed for the production company and director.
Miraculously her dog has puppies within a week or so (should have been 2 months). she desperately runs to his house for help (he's a veterinarian). He comes over to help with the birth - she disappears, then they cut back to the dog. And, imagine that - the dog had chihuahuas - yep, not even newborn ones, but ones with wide open eyes, tails wagging, and ears in the air. I'd suspect they were at least 6 months old.
Had to quit watching, I'm embarrassed for the production company and director.
A clichéd, unconvincing romance
Gordon-1116 February 2017
This film tells the story of a young woman, who moves into a small village to be a nurse in the local hospital. Unfortunately, her obnoxious vet neighbour turns out to be unexpectedly charming. Both she and he have to make difficult choices in their lives as a result of their romance.
I find "The Choice" very unconvincing. How would a nurse find an obnoxious man charming? A common reaction to neighbours playing loud music is to go and have a talk with the neighbour, then go away. When the neighbour is obnoxious, the nurse would have been likely to be angry and upset, rather than taking his poor attitude as flirtatious advances. From then on, the story and the dialogues are so clichéd and unbelievably cringe worthy. I literally choked even Teresa Palmer's character said no a number of times then yes. Unbelievable, and not romantic. The ending is unrealistic either. Perhaps it's meant to be touching, but I find it annoyingly out of this world. This film may be sweet for a teenage girl, but not for anyone else.
I find "The Choice" very unconvincing. How would a nurse find an obnoxious man charming? A common reaction to neighbours playing loud music is to go and have a talk with the neighbour, then go away. When the neighbour is obnoxious, the nurse would have been likely to be angry and upset, rather than taking his poor attitude as flirtatious advances. From then on, the story and the dialogues are so clichéd and unbelievably cringe worthy. I literally choked even Teresa Palmer's character said no a number of times then yes. Unbelievable, and not romantic. The ending is unrealistic either. Perhaps it's meant to be touching, but I find it annoyingly out of this world. This film may be sweet for a teenage girl, but not for anyone else.
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