The Last Song

The Last Song, a coming of age love story, from best-selling novelist and screenwriter Nicholas Sparks (Dear John and The Notebook) comes to Blu- ray Hi-Def Combo Pack and DVD editions on August 17, 2010 from Touchstone Home Entertainment.

Bonus features include filmmaker commentary, making of the Miley Cyrus
music video “When I Look At You,” deleted scenes, set tour and alternate opening sequence.

Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana," Hannah Montana: The Movie) and Greg Kinnear (Oscar®
nominee, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, As Good As It Gets, 1997, Little Miss Sunshine, You've Got Mail) star as an estranged father and daughter in this year's most heartwarming love story. Bobby Coleman (Take, Martian Child), Liam Hemsworth (Knowing), Hallock Beals, Kelly Preston (Jerry Maguire, The Cat in the Hat), Stephanie Leigh and Nick Searcy (Castaway, The Ugly Truth) round out the cast. Directed by Julie Ann Robinson ("Grey's Anatomy," "Big Love"), The Last Song is set in a small Southern beach town where father and daughter reconnect with the help of their shared love for music. The journey is complete with discoveries of friendship,
first love and second chances.

Bonus Features for The Last Song:

• Set Tour with Bobby Coleman – Audiences will have an all access pass to see how a
film is made through the eyes of the new up-and comer and star of The Last Song,
Bobby Coleman. This rambunctious eight-year old will bring his fans along as he
does everything from interview Adam Shankman and Miley’s security team, to
going on a seashell scavenger hunt.

• Making of the Music Video, “When I Look At You” with Miley Cyrus – Go behind-
the-scenes of the music video, “When I Look At You”. It will feature recording studio footage, b-roll from the set, interviews with Miley and crew, clips from the film and music video. Audiences will learn how the film’s motif, southern summer romance, is incorporated into feel and theme of the music video.

• Miley Cyrus Music Video: “When I Look At You”

Blu-Ray Exclusive
-Alternate Opening Sequence: The Church Fire (With optional commentary by director)
-Deleted Scenes (With optional commentary by director)
-Ronnie At The Piano
-Steve & Ronnie At The Beach
-Hospital Montage
-Vegan Cookies
-Juggling On The Pier
-Audio Commentary– with Director Julie Anne Robinson and Co-Producer Jennifer
Gibgot.

At its heart, The Last Song is a poignant journey for a father (Greg Kinnear ) and daughter (Miley Cyrus) who have lost touch with each other and are struggling to find a way back. At the same time, it explores the uncharted territory of young love, as the emotionally closed off Ronnie begins to let down her guard with a boy (Liam Hemsworth) she meets during summer vacation.

Shocking confession here: I've never read any of the Nicholas Sparks books. Never even picked one of them up, to tell you the truth.

I know, I know. Surprising, right? Especially considering how much I read.

I thought this was probably an advantage, though, as I reviewed this movie. See, when there is a movie based upon a book? I almost always like the book better. Then I feel like I can't be fair to the movie. And I'm all about being fair.

I have since learned that Nicholas Sparks actually wrote the screenplay before he wrote the book. So there you go. I could have been fair either way!

I figured this would be your typical chick flick, but it really wasn't. It was a strong story line (love! cancer! estrangement!) and I was really surprised that Miley Cyrus played the dramatic role of Ronnie as well as she did. I understand that Sparks always saw her as the lead role, so it makes sense that she played it well, but as someone who is used to seeing her in more campy roles (Hannah Montana), it was surprising to see her range.

Is it formulatic? A bit. That doesn't mean it wasn't well-acted, heartfelt, and a real tear-jerker. In short, a great movie for everyone. Not just tween girls.