★★★

starring: maika munroe, bradley whitford, tyriq withers, and lauren graham

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REVIEWER: hadassah devis

After prison, a woman attempts to reconnect with her young daughter but faces resistance from everyone except a bar owner with ties to her child. As they grow closer, she must confront her past mistakes to build a hopeful future.

They say when it rains it pours, and that seems about right when it comes to Hoover adaptions at the minute. I have to open by saying I have not read Reminders of Him by bestselling author Colleen Hoover and, as always, someone who has read the book is going to have a different level of critique than someone who has not.

So, I went into Reminders of Him not knowing anything outside of what I learned from the trailer, and spoiler (is it a spoiler if its in the trailer?) if you have seen the trailer, you know pretty much everything the film adaption has in store.

Tragic backstory, check. Illicit romance, check. Small town filled with loveable supporting characters, check. All the ingredients needed for a solid 'I'd like to watch something that will make me cry, but once the credits roll I don’t want to think about it again' kind of film, a balance Reminders of Him delivered on.

Reminders of Him doesn’t try to reinvent the genre nor does it exaggerate or overdo the various themes of grief, relationships, or forgiveness, which is an easy trap to fall into with contemporary romance.

Depending on your age-and-stage the romantic and motherhood based plotlines that Reminders of Him merges hold enough charm, backed by decent enough acting, to fill your girl's night needs.

It wouldn't be hard to pick holes in the film, from some strange never explained dynamics or choices from characters, pacing of certain aspects, and tepid chemistry between the main characters (despite their grasp of the wistful gaze) but really none of those flaws ruin the film, just as its strengths don't raise it above a run of the mill tear-jerker.

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Reminders of Him has enough charm backed by decent enough acting to fill your girl's night needs.

★★★