The Film
Miley Cyrus is all grown up and making a romance. Of course, it's a predictably cliché romance.
However, that's not entirely Miley's fault. The Last Song is based on a Nicholas Sparks novel. He's the same guy that brought us the magic of The Notebook, Dear John, and A Walk to Remember. Sparks' romance well has to be a bit dry. This one was specifically written to be a movie, and it shows.
Miley plays Ronnie Miller, a 17-year-old who gets sent to live with her composer dad (Greg Kinnear) for the summer. Of course, the two just can't connect. He doesn't know her beef with Juilliard! He doesn't know she's a vegetarian! He doesn't know about her knowledge of turtles! He doesn't realize when she's really shoplifting and when she's been set up!
Ronnie blames her dad for all of society's ills as well as the split with her mom (Kelly Preston). Of course, teen love with Steve (Miley's real-life beau Liam Hemsworth) conquers all -- or at least most. If you are familiar with Sparks, you know a good cry is coming. Also, the title hints towards the horrible twist this movie takes.
The Last Song is Miley's first adult/dramatic adventure. We have to give the kid some slack. Sparks, however, shouldn't be so easily forgiven. The movie is a bit of a mess, going from the stereotypical "new-girl-gets-cold-shoulder" routine to sadness in a flash. It's like they cut two different movies in half and pasted them together. While the second half features some of the better moments of the movie, it just all feels a bit too rushed.
The Picture
Most of this 2.35:1 transfer is filled with muted, beachy colors. There's the sand, the many browns inside the house, and Miley's teen angst wardrobe. Remember, this isn't pop princess Hannah Montana; this is brooding teen Miley. However, the film has its "wow" moments. Most notably are a few scenes where the screen is filled with the stunning blues of aquarium water. They are impossible to miss, and inject a serious pop into the film's overall image. Not that any other part of the film is lacking. Frankly, it's hard to look bad when a majority of the backdrop is beachfront property. Expect the movie to have its soft and sharp moments, but that seems to work with this type of subject matter.
The Sound
Disney has delivered a mixed bag with The Last Song's DTS-HD Master Audio track. That's not to say it's not good. The dialogue, while sometimes low, is always very clear. The rare piano moments sound bold and beautiful, and there is plenty of ambient noise, including ocean sounds and seagulls. However, it seems like the track could deliver much more, but it's too busy trying to belt out the soundtrack every few minutes -- and that soundtrack is disproportionately loud compared to the rest of the sound.
The Extras
Um... where's Miley? Considering that this is the star's first dramatic turn, you'd think she'd be willing to work it a bit. She introduces the making-of short for her music video, but barely pops up in the 4-minute piece after that. Then, you see her in the music video itself and deleted scenes. Aside from that, there's no more Miley. Also, with Nicholas Sparks' Hollywood track record, you'd think he'd get some type of featurette. Instead, we get a 5-minute set tour from Bobby Coleman, the kid that was barely in the movie for more than five minutes.
Final Thoughts
You're probably going to go into The Last Song knowing if you're going to love it or hate it -- and that's a good thing. This is a Miley vehicle, people. If you don't like that as a concept, get out while you can. That said, it's a decent Blu-ray transfer and fans will definitely eat up Miley's first big-girl role. It's just a shame that Disney couldn't include a little extra for the fans in the special features section.
Product Details
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