Director: R.J Cutler
Writer: Shauna Cross (Screenplay) Gayle Forman (Novel)
Starring: Chloe Grave Moretz, Mireille Enos, Jamie Blackley, Joshua Leonard, Liana Liberato, Stacy Keach, Gabrielle Rose, Jakob Davies, Ali Milner
Plot: Life changes in an instant for young Mia Hall after a car accident puts her in a coma. During an out-of-body experience, she must decide whether to wake up and live a life far different than she had imagined. The choice is hers if she can go on.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Sweet Heartstring Pulling Film
Story: If I Stay starts as we meet Mia Hall (Moretz) a young cellist with dreams of becoming famous with her skills, coming from a musical family with rock band father Denny (Leonard) and groupie mother Kat (Enos) and while the instruments are different the love for music shines through. Mia is waiting for her chance to go to Julliard to perfect her skills but when she meets young rocker Adam (Blackley) her life does take a different direction.
When Mia finds herself involved in a car accident with her family she finds herself looking over her injured comatose body. We flashback to see her relationship blossom with Adam and Mia around the hospital trying to find out what happened to the rest of her family. It just so happens to be around the most important decision of her life staying in her home town or risking everything by going to New York.
If I Stay is a story, I did go into expecting something completely different because we have a large chunk of the story following the building relationship between Mia and Adam which all has happened before the accident. Sadly, this only show how Mia is trying to decide whether she wants to return after everything around her life has come crashing down. While this works on some levels it does end up becoming clear what will happen in the end. I do think we should have seen slightly more from the out of body experience to add to the decision making process she has to go through.
Actor Review
Chloe Grace Moretz: Mia Hall is a young cellist that has been planning her life around her love of music but when she meets rocker Adam her plans get thrown into turmoil as she has to balance her love life with her love of music but things get worse then she is involved in a car accident and left fighting for her life. Chloe does what she seems to have been doing for years and looking like the star of the show.
Mireille Enos: Kat is the mother of Mia who was a groupie in her youth and she always supports Mia in all her decisions encouraging her to take more chances. Mireille is good in what is only a supporting role.
Jamie Blackley: Adam is the young rocker that falls in love with Mia and his band are on the brink of taking off to stardom. Even though he comes off completely opposite to Mia he will do anything for her but just like her his dreams are about to become a reality. Jamie does a good job as thee punk rock star as well as the loving boyfriend following his own dreams
Joshua Leonard: Denny is the rocker father of Mia who is still shocked about how different Mia is to him but supports her musical dreams all the way. Joshua does a good job in this role where we get a good father performance.
Support Cast: If I Stay has a supporting cast that all help out the story be it the friends, family or doctors, I don’t think any of the really stand out but they all do help the main story unfold.
Director Review: R.J Cutler – R.J. does put together to continually pull on the heart strings of the fans throughout.
Fantasy: If I Stay uses the fantasy idea of Mia being trapped in an out of body experience which works for that part of the story.
Romance: If I Stay throws us into a teenage young adult love story between Mia and Adam whose love could hold back or drive their dreams in music.
Music: If I Stay has a wonderful use of music throughout with it being the rock side mixed with the cello side of everything.
Settings: If I Stay uses the settings well to make us she the difference in the two different worlds the Mia and Adam come from.
Special Effects: If I Stay has solid effects when needed with the hospital scenes.
Suggestion: If I Stay is one that would be good for a date night. (Date Night)
Best Part: The music is good.
Worst Part: Slightly misleading.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: Yeah.
Chances of Sequel: There is a book for sequel from Adam’s point of view so you never know.
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Budget: $11 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 47 Minutes
Tagline: Live for Love
Overall: Easy to watch heartstring pulling romantic story.
Rating
