The Choice Movie Poster Image

The Choice

(i)

 

Womanizer trades up for true love in Nicholas Sparks weepie.
  • Review Date: February 5, 2016
  • Rated: PG-13
  • Genre: Romance
  • Release Year: 2016
  • Running Time: 111 minutes

What parents need to know

Positive messages

Go after what you want, or you may lose it. Opposites can attract. On the other hand, supports the romantic cliche that distaste sometimes foretells love.

Positive role models

Love transforms a womanizer into a loyal, one-woman man. A woman cheats on her boyfriend by having an affair with another man, whom she eventually marries.

Violence

A slow-motion car crash is seen, but no blood is shown. A man gets punched. A character's mother died of cancer when he was young. A vet replaces a child's dead pet lizard with a live one rather than explain the death. Grief and tragedy are key themes of the movie.

Sex

Passionate kissing. A man sweeps a table clear and lays his partner down on it; the intention is clearly to have sex, but only kissing is shown -- also, her blouse is unbuttoned to reveal her belly, and he takes his shirt off. A pregnant dog is discussed. A male dog's owner jokingly discusses his dog's using "protection." Men ogle women. Some skimpy outfits.

Language

"S--t," "ass," "dork," "knocked up," "balls," "stink ass."

Consumerism
Not applicable
Drinking, drugs, & smoking

Adults drink alcohol (beer).

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Choice is based on the same-named Nicholas Sparks novel and, like most of the movies based on his books, is a three-hanky romantic drama. The "choice" of the title refers (potential spoiler alert!) in part to a loving husband's dilemma regarding the extraordinary measures keeping his comatose young wife alive after a car crash (it's shown in slow motion). The agony of his grief may be difficult for younger viewers. Sexual attraction is another theme, with characters kissing passionately and the implication of sex (shirts are partially/completely removed, but there's no graphic nudity). A character's past as a womanizer is discussed; women wear bikinis, and and men ogle women. Language includes "s--t" and "ass"; adults drink beer. A man gets punched, and there's discussion of the fact that a character's mother died of cancer when he was young. A believer and a non-believer discuss the existence of God good-naturedly.

What's the story?

True love is a choice, THE CHOICE seems to suggest. Travis (Benjamin Walker) plays the role of good ol' North Carolina boy with a gift for flirting and a penchant for partying on his boat. When his pretty new neighbor, Gabby (Teresa Palmer), a cantankerous medical student, moves in next door, he's smitten -- and cute arguments and confrontations (predictably) ensue. Gradually Travis is revealed to be a solid guy: He's a local veterinarian with a good heart who loves animals and nature. When Gabby's boyfriend leaves town, she and Travis fall into an intense affair that's interrupted by the boyfriend's return. Playboy Travis declares his love, but tragedy brings their idyll to a halt.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

Based on Nicholas Sparks' same-named novel, this is a formulaic, cliched tearjerker. It blends chaotic direction by Ross Katz, a star in over her head, and a poorly structured script full of obvious foreshadowing and words of wisdom that aren't terribly wise. "Most precautions aren't necessary. That's why we call 'em precautions." Huh? Or, "Life just keeps unfolding. If you sit still, it will pass you by." And, best of all: "A man with one chair likes to sit alone."

Without getting too far into spoiler territory, the ending reveals one element of foreshadowing that should have been highlighted more emphatically early in the script but wasn't. The one standout is Walker's performance as Travis; the actor miraculously brings depth to nearly inutterable dialogue -- and reality to a story that would otherwise fit best into the cookie-cutter mold of a Lifetime Channel triviality.

Families can talk about...

  • Families can talk about The Choice's messages. Do you think it's important to take risks sometimes? What could the consequences be -- positively or negatively?

  • Do you think love at first sight exists? How does the movie portray romantic/sexual relationships?

  • Do you think you'd be able to make the choice that Travis faces?

  • Author Nicholas Sparks is known for weepy, heartbreaking stories with life-and-death twists. How does this adaptation compare to others based on his books?

Movie details

Theatrical release date:February 5, 2016
DVD release date:May 3, 2016
Cast:Alexandra Daddario, Teresa Palmer, Benjamin Walker
Director:Ross Katz
Studio:Lionsgate
Genre:Romance
Topics:Book characters
Run time:111 minutes
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:sexual content and some thematic issues

This review of The Choice was written by

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Quality

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Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging; great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging; good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging; good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging; OK learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

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What parents and kids say

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Kid, 9 years old May 3, 2016

Heartbreaking and entertaining but predictable romance drama is OKAY for teens.

This heartbreaking drama is about a medical student named Gabby, who recently moved to North Carolina. While she's there, she meets a young, handsome, but sweet womanizer, and they fall in love. After a one night stand, things get stuff when Gabby's boyfriend comes back from a trip. Gabby and Travis need to make a choice to stay together or move on, and they make a choice to marry each other, and start a big relationship. 7 years later, after they have kids, and start a family, Gabby makes an accident, and now Travis needs to make an ever bigger choice. Violence 2/5: Many heated, loud and intense arguments. A character gets in a car accident in an intense, brutal car accident, though does not die. A horrible, brutal storm hits a town. Sexual content and nudity 4/5: A few graphic sex scenes show a man on top of a woman removing her panties and bra, and thrusting into her with lots of moaning and her bare breasts and bare legs/bottom are seen in these scenes, as well as the mans naked chest. The main character is a womanizer, and many woman are seen with only bra's and panties. Lots of graphic sexual innuendo and references. A woman gets pregnant two times, obviously from sexual intercourse. Language 3/5: A few uses of s--t, d--k, one use of f--k, and a quiet use of c--t. Drugs and drinking 3/5: Many scenes show characters drinking bear and briefly popping pills on a boat, as well as many characters drinking wine. A character briefly gets drunk. Although this movie is entertaining and heartbreaking which made me cry, it's a bit predictable. My rating:R for some sexual content/nudity, language, thematic elements including some violence, and alcohol and drug use.
Educator and Parent of a 17 year old Written byCharlierehbeingarrit May 15, 2016

The Choice

I loved the movie my mom loved it and it was so sad. My mom cured. But the ending was really surprising.
What other families should know
Great messages
Great role models

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