If I Stay ***
By describing If I Stay as ‘bland’ (as some critics have) falls into the same category as lazily dismissing the Twilight saga films – they serve a purpose for the hormonal young. Sure, watching loved-up teens looking and acting awkward can be a little on the dreary, lagging side for us older and ‘wiser’ (ahem) lot, but this film does have more value than to simply dismiss it as teen pulp.
For a start, If I Stay has love, tragedy and great music to enjoy, all wrapped up and delivered by ‘hot acting stuff’ Chloë Grace Moretz who gives fans her vulnerable side for a change. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’ll certainly cause a few lumps in the throat, if not moist eyes, however shamefully it tugs at the heartstrings.
Based on a young adult bestseller by Gayle Forman, If I Stay is narrated by lead character Mia Hall (Moretz) who has a great family life in Portland (with super cool parents and small brother) and is a talented cello player. She has also recently bagged the ‘rock star’ boyfriend, Adam (Jamie Blackley), as well as auditioned for Juillard School in NYC. But all this changes after a terrible car accident that puts her in a coma. In a series of flashbacks to help her, Mia must decide whether to wake up or pass onto the afterlife.
This is an effortless and emotional watch for anyone. Moretz may not be stretching her acting muscles much, but she demonstrates she can open a film and deliver. If I Stay is targeted at the young adult like the novel so expect teen love angst in spades. The passion between Moretz’s Mia and UK actor Blackley’s Adam (of Snow White and the Huntsman fame who will stir many a young heart after this and does a half-decent America accent) is genuinely believable. Blackley’s Adam is the brooding, loved-up type in the ‘Edward Cullen’ vein with Moretz’s Mia the unconfident ‘Bella Swan’ so it’s not surprising the impact this will have on the young in the post-Twilight vacuum.
Perhaps the biggest draw is the music, a mixture of rock, guitar ballards and classical cello pieces that can be enjoyed by all. Director, documentary filmmaker R.J. Cutler keeps events engaging enough with an emotive music score that accompanies or heightens the drama along the way. The music is part and parcel of the film – without it there would be little story – which makes you question how much the successful novel has been dumbed down. That said like the rocky romance, the music touches a chord to engage its target audience for maximum effect. Manipulating – you bet.
Indeed things are a little too perfect for real life – Mia’s rock chic mother (played by Mireille Enos) and former rocker dad (played by Joshua Leonard) say all the right things every time, creating the kind of perfect family life environment that any teen dreams of. And so what that reality has been suspended a little? Well it could be argued that this sugary overkill detracts from the seriousness of the subject matter post crash. However this IS a young adult drama so things will be a little diluted.
There is a nice play on events at the very end, and a brief moment where you think you’re going to scream at the screen because it looks like you’ll be left hanging – probably the most ‘taxing’ episode of the lot. This is an undemanding film, and however weepy it gets, however many nauseating, sloppy Mia-Adam entanglements we are party to, If I Stay will thaw even the coldest heart, either by music or tragedy as it finds a hook one way or the other.
3/5 stars
By @FilmGazer
