Reminders of Him Movie Review: Why This Adaptation is “Better” than the Other CoHos8 min read

Warning: this Reminders of Him movie review contains spoilers.

Film adaptations of popular books have always faced the challenges of translating a beloved, detailed body of work. A novelist has all of the time and pages to explore the depths of each character and build a complex world that their reader can embrace. On the other hand, screenwriters must be able to achieve the same emotional resonance and profundity in an hour or two. This forces filmmakers to make difficult choices, condensing plots and omitting cherished scenes, which often leads to feeding the egos of their audience. Book purists would then say, “The book was better.”

From its announcement, I had high hopes for the adaptation of Reminders of Him, especially since its screenplay was co-written by the original bestselling author, Colleen Hoover. Hoover’s participation was an advantage, as the movie resulted in a marvelous adaptation of the book. It made me think that Hoover has somehow sprinkled her marketing genius in the script that the film made me want to read the book so badly. This wasn’t the case with It Ends With Us or any other film of the same caliber.

Reminders of Him is one of those films that I felt had something deeper to unpack, and the only way to have a better grasp of it was to experience it in its original, more detailed, and intricate art form. Due to time constraints and the deadline I have set for this review, I opted to research the characters in the book instead. Indeed, that research broadened my perception and softened my criticism of the two characters I disliked in the film: Grace and Patrick Landry (played by Lauren Graham and Bradley Whitford, respectively).

Now, let me be honest. I have not been a fan of this romantic-melodrama movie genre for quite some time. I only watched It Ends With Us because I got intrigued by the scandal of its actors and producers, and I didn’t like it that much. As I entered college life, I gravitated towards more cerebral, transgressive, fatalistic, whimsical, hipster, and politically-driven romance dramas. The last time I remember embracing Christian, heartfelt melodrama like Reminders of Him was in 2004 when Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook was adapted for the big screen. I still genuinely love the film to this day, as with A Walk to Remember, another tender tearjerker that is now on my list of films to rewatch. But it has really been a while since I have been enthusiastic about the genre, and even more so in writing about it.

What compelled me to watch Reminders of Him was my love for Rudy Pankow, the reckless but good-hearted bad boy in Netflix’s Outer Banks. I have been a fan of his since last year, and when I learned that he would be in the film, I marked the its release date on my calendar and made sure to see it in a theater. Hence, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration that I wanted more of him, more of his exposure in the film. He barely had 10 minutes of screentime.

Pankow portrays Scotty, the deceased lover of Kenna. While I understand that Scotty is not the central character and serves primarily as a catalyst for the main drama, I realize now how selfish it was to ask for more scenes featuring him. I’ve mentioned that the filmmakers had to condense the plot and limit the scenes. I recognize that Kenna’s time in prison was another pivotal part of the movie adaptation that was overlooked.

The story revolves around Kenna Rowan, portrayed by Maika Monroe, as she navigates the challenges of life after her release from prison. Kenna was convicted of vehicular manslaughter, which led to the death of her boyfriend, Scotty Landry. While incarcerated, she gave birth to their daughter, Diem, but custody was awarded to Scotty’s parents. Things become more complicated when Kenna meets and falls in love with Scotty’s best friend, Ledger Ward (portrayed by Tyriq Withers), who is heavily involved in their daughter’s life and has a close relationship with Scotty’s parents.

Reminders of Him is a heartfelt and poignant story. One can’t truly imagine the hardships that Kenna faces and can’t help but empathize with her and root for her. It feels as if life has been against her from the very beginning. She is without family, lacks a college education (having worked at a dollar store), and the only refuge she had was Scotty, who came from a very different background (his family is well-to-do). If they were Asian, Scotty’s family likely would not have accepted Kenna, which almost happened in the film given her circumstances and Scotty’s protective parents. The worst came to worst when Scotty died in a car accident Kenna caused, which prompted his parents to sue her.

Due to good conduct, Kenna was granted a two-year parole. She has longed for her daughter, Diem, ever since she was taken from her. But meeting Diem was another wall to break. Scotty’s parents and Ledger did not trust her. After all, she was a family-less, poor ex-convict who lived in a cheap hotel she could barely afford.

The only silver lining was that Ledger was attracted to Kenna (they never met while Scotty was still alive), and thus, despite his reservations about her, it was inevitable for him to be protective of her. This led to Ledger getting to know the real Kenna, and how wonderful she is. He also helped Kenna by offering her a weekend job at his bar.

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It may seem like Ledger’s character wasn’t profusely explored in the film, but I believe his motivations were conveyed well. I thought about it and realized that Ledger and Scotty shared a deep brotherly love. Ledger couldn’t be there for Scotty before his death, and so he felt immense guilt because of that. He then devoted half of his life to the remaining Landrys, making his then-fiancée break off their engagement (she didn’t like that Ledger was too attached to the Landrys and to Diem).

The current situation for Ledger is compelling, as he has begun falling in love with Kenna, and they have the potential to create a perfect family together. However, Kenna is facing a restraining order that prevents her from seeing Diem.

The only treasure Kenna possesses (apart from the kitten she was forced to adopt) is the notebooks she owns. It is where she found solace at the time of her recluse, especially after Scotty’s death. She would often write to Scotty about her daily feelings and experiences. And this was the solution that Ledger found that could convince Scotty’s parents to allow Kenna to meet her daughter. And it worked. Finally, after all the grief and misunderstanding, they were able to reconcile and start anew.

Reminders of Him is a melodrama that is perfect in every way. There are a lot of soap operas that have a similar plot, but what’s beautiful about Reminders of Him is that it’s not overblown. It was able to skillfully balance the poignancy of the story, making it feel heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time.

Despite its two-hour constraints, the film inserted a few touching moments, like Kenna’s friendship with her neighbor and co-worker Lady Diana, played brilliantly by Monika Myers.

The only issue I’ve noticed is the lack of sexual tension between Kenna and Ledger. It might just be due to camera work or an editing mishap, but that little detail could have been refined. That tension could set the momentum in their longing, especially since the sudden first kiss they shared felt awkward. The awkwardness of that scene made me second-guess Monroe and Wither’s chemistry.

Everyone delivered strong performances in their roles. Lauren Graham was outstanding as Grace Landry, effectively portraying the character’s subdued nature. Bradley Whitford was nearly as intimidating as his character in A Scent of a Woman. Initially, I found myself disliking these two characters for their resentment and judgment towards Kenna. However, I ended up forgiving them due to their positive transformation by the story’s conclusion.

Albeit barely having ten minutes of screen time, Rudy Pankow shines in each of his scenes. His cheerful and playful nature perfectly embodied Scotty. A charismatic presence from the very first scenes, Pankow was able to capture hearts.

Tyriq Withers’ character was restrained, calm, and unassuming. He was able to perfectly blend those characteristics in portraying a protective, kind-hearted, self-sacrificing mediator.

But the one who stood out most was Maika Monroe, and not only because she’s the protagonist. Before this, I have only heard of her as Joe Keery’s ex, and had never seen any of her work. Maika Monroe was a revelation. She brought Kenna to life as a vulnerable, subdued, and complex persona, navigating life’s adversities with resilience and determination.

I’m not sure if I’ve convinced you to watch the film, but I’m confident that Vanessa Caswill (director), Colleen Hoover, and Lauren Levine (screenwriters) will persuade you to read the book afterward.

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