Studio: Focus Features Film
Originally Released: Aug. 2011
Running Time: 108 min.
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: Emma and Dexter meet on the night of their university graduation. We see them every year on the anniversary of that date - July 15th. Emma is smart but success doesn't come quickly for her, whereas for Dexter, success and women come very easily. Through the years they grow apart as their lives take different directions and they meet other people. But as they grow apart from those other people and their lives start taking opposite directions again, Emma and Dexter find that they belong with each other.
My Take: I read One Day (click title for my review) a couple of months ago because it was getting a ton of hype and I knew it was about to be released as a movie. I wanted to be prepared. I generally don't like reading a book after watching the movie. Also, I wanted to know what all of the hype was about! After reading I discovered that I really liked the book but didn't love it. I did, however, feel that it would probably play better as a movie than a book so was excited to see it on the big screen. Then it came out and the reviews were not so good. However, often times what the critics think and what I think are two different things so I wasn't too discouraged. I grabbed one of my closest girlfriends (who hadn't read the book) and said I think you'd like this movie and I want to go see it, so let's do this! She lovingly obliged me.
Well guess what? We both loved it! It also appeared as though the whole audience we were watching it with did too. I don't care if Anne Hathaway's accent isn't spot on. We are American so we aren't connoisseur's of British accents. We all instantly got swept away with the humor and the sadness of the movie.
The movie follows the lives of Emma and Dexter just like the book. Emma is played by Anne Hathaway and Dexter is played by Jim Sturgess. We see them once a day for twenty years. The movie flies by because you only get to see little vignettes of their lives. Again, you hope for Emma to gain some confidence and you want to slap Dexter so that he stops being, as the Brits would say, such a wanker. But then, they finally fall in love, and all is right with the world again for a little while.
Knowing what is going to happen did not deter me from my enjoyment of the movie. I was glad to see that the director did not steer far from the book. I did good and didn't spill any of the plot to my friend so she was shocked at the ending. Regardless the ending moved us both and we both really enjoyed the movie.
Whether you read the book or not, I would recommend the movie!
I liked the book, but didn't love it. I had planned to see the movie and the reviews were awful so I skipped it. After your review, I'm going to check to see if it's still showing here.
ReplyDeleteNot to be all Susy Rainy Day Parade, but I actually hated the book! Like, it's one of the few novels that angered me enough to actual loathing. That being said, I still wanted to see the film... I love both Sturgess and Hathaway.
ReplyDeleteBut in the end, my trepidation won out -- I was so upset by the story that I didn't know if I'd want to see it playing out on the big screen. I'm glad you enjoyed it, though, and think I'll rent it in a few months! Then I can yell and cry in the privacy of my own living room.
I loved the book, and I wasn't expecting to at all. I haven't seen the movie and don't know if I'll get a chance to until it comes out on dvd because it wasn't in many theaters near where I live.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why I haven't read this one yet. I downloaded the ebook but never started it. I think i'll have to read it soon.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid of that ending..they say it's bad, does someone die? I do not want to watch it then
ReplyDeleteI am glad you posted about this because I was only lukewarm when it comes to the book too. When I started seeing mediocre reviews for the movie I figured I wouldn't bother, but after reading your post I think I will see it at some point.
ReplyDeleteBlodeuedd - Well I can't ruin the ending for you! But yes, it is sad. Worth seeing though, I promise.
ReplyDeleteI love Hathaway and was ecstatic to hear that you gave a thumbs up to the movie! Yes gotta to go now :)
ReplyDeleteI loved the book when I read it and was not disappointed by the movie. I love how true it was to the book.
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