Schmaltzy Nicholas Sparks adaptations won’t be going away any time soon. While none of them tend to move the cultural needle much, the modestly budgeted films have their audience and, occasionally, you’ll get a rather sizable hit, like "Dear John." And most of these movies turn a buck, so there’s really no deterrent to making more of them.
The latest is "The Best of Me," featuring "True Detective" star Michelle Monaghan and James Marsden as the leads, and rising stars Luke Bracey and Liana Liberato—who you’ll be seeing good things from soon we bet—as their younger selves. Directed by Michael Hoffman (“Gambit”), the latest trailer appears to follow the blueprint of these familiar heart-tugging weepies, but we suppose that’s the point.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Based on the bestselling novel by acclaimed author Nicholas Sparks, The Best of Me tells the story of Dawson and Amanda, two former high school sweethearts who find themselves reunited after 20 years apart, when they return to their small town for the funeral of a beloved friend. Their bittersweet reunion reignites the love they’ve never forgotten, but soon they discover the forces that drove them apart twenty years ago live on, posing even more serious threats today. Spanning decades, this epic love story captures the enduring power of our first true love, and the wrenching choices we face when confronted with elusive second chances.
The soundtrack features Hunter Hayes, David Nail, Colbie Caillat, the Eli Young Band and Lady Antebellum—whose song “I Did With You” is featured in the new spot—if those acts are your thing. "The Best Of Me" opens on October 17 and co-stars Caroline Goodall, Sebastian Arcelus, Jon Tenney and Gerald McRaney. Watch the trailer (and check out a few new photos) below, but not without a full box of tissues.
