THE CHOICE

US, 2016, 111 minutes, Colour.
Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer, Maggie Grace, Alexandra Daddario, Tom Wilkinson, Tom Welling.
Directed by Ross Katz.


The easiest way to review The Choice is to note that it is based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks. For those who enjoys Sparks’ novels and the film adaptations, there is no need of review, The Choice will be on the list of must-see films. On the other hand, critics are very harsh on the film adaptations, dismissing them as predictable, sentimental, trite. But, so much entertainment could be described in that way – but does not necessarily stop many being entertained.

There have been 11 adaptations of Sparks’ novels in the last 16 years, one a year since 2012. The first was Message in a Bottle, with Kevin Costner and Paul Newman. The adaptation which has received more praise than the others is The Notebook. Lately, we have had The Longest Ride, with the Rodeo background, The Best of Me, Safe Haven.

Most of Sparks’ stories are set along the North Carolina coast and this is the case with The Choice. Sparkes relishes the beauty of the scenery and the film makers have gone along with it this time, making The Choice a rather pretty picture, the water, the inlets, and at sunset, the golden light shimmering on the water.

As the film opens, Travis (Benjamin Walker) is confiding to the audience that choices and decision-making are important, and that he has a very important decision to make, arriving at the hospital with a bunch of flowers, talking to the doctor and… We go into flashback.

Travis is something of a tough type, with a rather sardonic sense of humour, living by himself in a comfortable house on the water, hosting parties, and listening to loud music – which does not ingratiate himself with his new neighbour, medical student, Gabby (Australia’s Teresa Palmer). And she blames his dog for impregnating her dog – and dogs will feature in the film as well as some puppies.

She goes to the vet and low and behold, Travis is in a veterinary partnership with his father (Tom Wilkinson). Travis will say that Gabby bothers him – but he likes being bothered by her. Initially, she is bothered in the expected way but, somehow or other we know that this is going to end in romance. Complication, Travis has an on-again off-again girlfriend and Gabby is about to be engaged to the local doctor.

Gabby comes from a very wealthy family and she decides to go back home, thinking that she must be engaged – although telling the truth to the doctor.

The Choice is very much in favour of commitment, marriage and family. And the years go by.

It would not be a romance if there were not some suffering in the film – and, in a predictable way, it happens, causing Travis to think, to make decisions…

After the tears, joy and smiles, and that is a Nicholas Sparks’ story. Until the next one.


1. The novels of Nicholas Sparks? The sellers? Target audiences and readers? Themes? The film versions?

2. Love, illness, marriage, family, fidelity and infidelity, family, decisions?

3. The North Carolina coast, the town, the land and the sea, the son and the light, glistening on the water? Homes, the hospital, the veterinary surgeon , veterinary surgery, the wealthy homes? The musical score and tone?

4. The title and themes? Travis, talking about decisions, life and choosing? Love, commitment, priorities, marrying – and the issue of turning off life support?

5. Travis talking about decisions, the flowers, the hospital, the flashbacks and the effect?

6. Travis, at home, by himself, his single chair, the party, the guests, his sister, loud? Sitting, listening to the music? His dog?

7. Gabby, studying, medical student, trying to work, her exasperation, costing Travis, the accusation about the impregnating of the dog, his reaction?

8. Travis, attracted, saying that Gabby bothered him? The irony of his being the vet? Gabby going to the vet, the guilty dog not being Travis’s? The birth of the puppies?

9. Travis’s father, the death of his wife, the clients of the vet, his charm, accepting Gabby, the woman who often visited, the suggestion that he ask for a date, his awkwardness but asking?

10. Gabby and Travis together, their friendship, going on the boat with Travis’s other friends, the attraction, the sexual encounter, the effect?

11. Gabby at the hospital, about to be engaged to the doctor, love for him? Meeting his family, the meal? Travis passing by, Gabby going out to confront him?

12. Her decision, the doctor being upset, her love, but leaving to go and stay with her parents, Travis tracking her down, mistaking the parents for the kitchen staff, his proposal, on his knees?

13. Travis’s girlfriend, on and off presence?

14. The marriage, the years passing, the children, happiness, their grandfather playing with the children?

15. Travis and his work, staying back, Gabby at the restaurant, waiting, driving, the crash, her being in coma?

16. The long time in coma, the doctor and his prognosis, whether to turn off the life support, Travis unwilling?

17. Waking, saying that she heard Travis? Together again? The future?