Based on the novel written by Colleen Hoover, and directed by Vanessa Caswill, Reminders of Him keeps empathy and courage present. The foundation is established, and the film has feelings of disconnect looking to be rebuilt. The halting point is the life-changing error of a tragic loss. The film fuels its emotions through desperation spiraling. There is the sense that finding forgiveness is not in the cards. The courage to keep going persists. Some moments in the story felt cheesy, but I also felt a decent vibe through various parts of the film. As most know due to recent well-publicized controversy between actors, this is not the first adaptation of a novel written by Colleen Hoover.
The film’s main character is Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe), and she has just been released from prison. An accidental error has caused her former love partner Scotty Landry (Rudy Pankow) to be die. Her life is blocked from Scotty’s family. His parents are Patrick and Grace Landry (Bradley Whitford and Lauren Graham). They do not want Kenna in their lives. They also want her to have nothing to do with her daughter Diem (Zoe Kosovic). However, Kenna finds a way to build a connection again. She becomes friends with a bartender named Ledger Ward (Tyriq Withers). Ledger is close to the Landry family and Diem and knows Kenna’s past.
The film becomes a journey of self-discovery. The direction of the film keeps the grieving prominent. Kenna tries to rebuild her life, but the thought of rejection is always in the back of her mind. There is also the fact that Patrick and Grace want nothing to do with her. Ledger is the only one trying to ensure Kenna hasa second chance. Reminders of Him intertwines the tragedies and the struggles which surround Kenna’s past and Kenna’s daughter. The pacing is appropriate. At the same time, there is a romantic dynamic in the mix involving Kenna and Ledger.
Finding love is the component of Reminders of Him that is all over the place. The theme is compelling and mesmerizing in the way it shows how light has the chance to shine again. Kenna wants to feel loved by her daughter, Patrick, Grace, and maybe even Ledger. However, the road to recovery and picking up the pieces are her hurdles. Kenna’s faults may stand in the way of her redemption and are the obstacles that linger in Reminders of Him.
Throughout the film, I felt the sense that refusing to forgive was very harsh. The backstory is tragic, but the facts and the evidence repeatedly get dismissed. I do understand that direction, especially since there is a fatality in the mix. Overall, from my vantage point, the concept of hate is too strong at times. Forgiveness is still possible, but I wish that Reminders of Him looped it in more gradually. I did not appreciate the pot of boiling hatred in this story, but the courage to never give up is spot-on. Three out of four stars for Reminders of Him.
Movies with Tarek 