'Implausible' is an unfair label applied on its own but if the story itself cannot overcome its implausibility or make it into something interesting, then it deserves the stamp. Right in the forehead. Bullock-Reeves reunion The Lake House (2006) not only merits it, but demands it due to its disjointed treatment of parallel story lines and its inability to ultimately make something interesting of this mystery mess. Nevertheless, the film proves a fair diversion and pasttime.
The centromere of these two story lines is the Lake House a majestic, remote little estate with walls of glass and pillars of steel that overlooks a lake. When lonely architect Alex (Reeves) moves in there he finds a letter in the mailbox from a woman who claims to be the house's previous tenant, something that appears logically impossible... and is. Out of curiosity, he tries to seek out this woman but finds that the address she has given him to forward her mail does not exist; it is today a mere construction site. Confused, he sends her a reply through the Lake House's mailbox which she receives and responds to, thereby sparking the fuse of a fully-fletched long distance romance two years apart in time.
The Lake House is a shameless chick-flick, it needs to be said. It is also the reason why chick-flicks in general are given a bad name (when there are many good ones like Pride & Prejudice, Love Actually and Clueless). Here we have pseudo-magic, angsty vulnerable and lonely characters and their newfound crushes wrapped in Hollywood mush. The film pretends to be so sweepingly romantic that Alex never bothers to ask Kate (in the future) for the daily newspaper or winning lottery numbers. Instead they patiently communicate through insightful love letters, sigh romantically and stare longingly into space. It soon spirals into a messy, talkative and slow-paced "You've Got Mail" romp on magic.
Keanu Reeves wears his confused, wooden expression during the film and Sandra Bullock opts for her usual mellow, sweet face. Yet for all their imperfections and perhaps BECAUSE of their imperfections they are two likable normal characters. I also think that the two have very good chemistry; indeed, were it not for that device the Lake House would have sunk almost immediately. Now it remains afloat thanks to occasional comedy, well-placed saccharine sweetness and an even level of modest 'watchableness'. The final twist is wielded with deft strokes and things finally work. But it never elevates above generic rom-com formula. Although serious props for playing Nick Drake.
6 out of 10
The centromere of these two story lines is the Lake House a majestic, remote little estate with walls of glass and pillars of steel that overlooks a lake. When lonely architect Alex (Reeves) moves in there he finds a letter in the mailbox from a woman who claims to be the house's previous tenant, something that appears logically impossible... and is. Out of curiosity, he tries to seek out this woman but finds that the address she has given him to forward her mail does not exist; it is today a mere construction site. Confused, he sends her a reply through the Lake House's mailbox which she receives and responds to, thereby sparking the fuse of a fully-fletched long distance romance two years apart in time.
The Lake House is a shameless chick-flick, it needs to be said. It is also the reason why chick-flicks in general are given a bad name (when there are many good ones like Pride & Prejudice, Love Actually and Clueless). Here we have pseudo-magic, angsty vulnerable and lonely characters and their newfound crushes wrapped in Hollywood mush. The film pretends to be so sweepingly romantic that Alex never bothers to ask Kate (in the future) for the daily newspaper or winning lottery numbers. Instead they patiently communicate through insightful love letters, sigh romantically and stare longingly into space. It soon spirals into a messy, talkative and slow-paced "You've Got Mail" romp on magic.
Keanu Reeves wears his confused, wooden expression during the film and Sandra Bullock opts for her usual mellow, sweet face. Yet for all their imperfections and perhaps BECAUSE of their imperfections they are two likable normal characters. I also think that the two have very good chemistry; indeed, were it not for that device the Lake House would have sunk almost immediately. Now it remains afloat thanks to occasional comedy, well-placed saccharine sweetness and an even level of modest 'watchableness'. The final twist is wielded with deft strokes and things finally work. But it never elevates above generic rom-com formula. Although serious props for playing Nick Drake.
6 out of 10