On March 13, the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel Reminders of Him hit the theaters. Director Vanessa Caswill recruited a star-studded cast, including Tyriq Withers, Maika Monroe, and Rudy Pankow, to produce this one-hour and 54-minute film. The imaginative overarching theme of redemption, loss, and hope is present throughout the main character Kenna’s (Maika Monroe) life. Although the movie was overall a great watch, there were some cringeworthy moments and omitted scenes from the book.
After a meet-cute at a dollar store, Kenna and Scotty (Rudy Pankow) fall deeply in love. However, after a tragic drunk driving accident, Kenna abandons Scotty in the overturned car, leading to his death.
A key part of the movie was its immaculate playlist; every painful song was met with an even more heartwrenching moment. A truly remarkable moment was when Lord Huron’s “The Night We Met” was played during Kenna’s flashback to when she and Scotty first met. This sad, peaceful song led to the feeling of heartbreak and happiness, giving viewers a glimpse into what lay ahead for Scotty and Kenna, a relationship of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.
Kenna is charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and is given a seven-year prison sentence, only to find out that she is pregnant with Scotty’s baby. Kenna tries to gain visitation rights to her daughter, but her daughter’s rights are with Scotty’s parents. Once the baby is born, Scotty’s parents, Grace (Lauren Graham) and Patrick Landry (Bradley Whitford), take her to live with them in Laramie, Wyoming. Grace and Patrick still harbor hatred towards Kenna for leaving their son to die alone and swear never to let Kenna near her daughter, Diem.
After five years in prison, Kenna gets out early on parole and returns to Scotty’s hometown in hopes of building a relationship with her daughter, but instead meets bar owner Ledger Ward (Tyriq Withers). The tension between them is undeniable, lighting the flame for a steamy drama, until Ledger discovers that the mystifying girl from his bar is actually the woman who killed his best friend.
The more Ledger gets to know Kenna, the more he slowly understands what Scotty saw in her. He realizes that Scotty would have wanted his daughter to know her mother. Aversion soon turns into love between them, but they must keep this secret from Scotty’s parents, especially after they served Kenna with a restraining order.
Reminders of Him had all the makings of a classic, tear-jerking love story, with a great, well-known cast. The acting was on point most of the movie, leaving the audience feeling every emotion, allowing viewers to sense the heartache, love, and hatred between characters. Author and producer Colleen Hoover has given the world another sob story, and it left viewers bawling.
Although the movie had emotional qualities, there are a few scenes in which viewers may also feel secondhand embarrassment. Some moments in the movie were intended to be cute but turned out to be cringey. For example, after the restraining order, Kenna expresses her dislike for music, stating that every song was sad and depressing. Later on in the movie, when Kenna finally gets a phone, Ledger sends her a “happy” playlist. The exchange between Ledger and Kenna is intended to show his care for Kenna, but it elicits an ick response from viewers.
An additional downside to the movie was the forgotten scenes from the book. During a flashback with Ledger and Scotty, Scotty tells him that he wants to propose to Kenna. Later on in the book, Scotty’s mother gives the ring to Kenna after they make amends. However, in the movie, Grace never returns the ring to Kenna, and the proposal is forgotten.
Reminders of him is a true love story carrying emotion, heartache, and a few cringeworthy moments. Overall, this movie is a great romantic dramedy that will make viewers laugh, cry, and everything in between. With themes of second-chances, love, and redemption, it is a must-watch and earns four out of five feathers.
