Review of Charlie St. Cloud (2010) by Jessica T — 19 Mar 2011

Charlie St. Cloud (Zac Efron) is a sailor who wins a professional boating race on his sailboat, the "Splendid Splinter", along with his younger brother Sam (Charlie Tahan and Chris Massoglia). He subsequently receives a sailing scholarship to Stanford University. Charlie graduates from high school and after getting home from his graduation ceremony, Charlie promises Sam that they will practice baseball together every day until he leaves for Stanford; at sunset when the Boston Yacht Club's ceremonial cannons sound. Later that night, Charlie was supposed to go to a graduation party with his friends, but his mother Claire (Kim Basinger) makes him babysit Sam while she picks up another shift at her job as a nurse. When Sam is watching television, Charlie tries to sneak out and go to the party. But he is caught by Sam when he turns his headlights on, and Sam asks Charlie to drive him to his friend Tommy's house. At first Charlie refuses, but gives in when Sam makes compliments about his car. While driving, Charlie and Sam talk about Charlie's departure and horseplay until they get into a bad car accident at a traffic signal. Their car, is rear ended by a pickup truck, forcing them into the path of a Mack truck in a T-bone collision. Although a paramedic named Florio Ferrente (Ray Liotta) revives Charlie, Sam succumbs to his wounds and dies in Charlie's arms as he sobs in horror. As his final wish, Sam asks Charlie to never leave him alone again, saying that if he does, they will always be together as brothers. At Sam's funeral, a broken-hearted Charlie runs off after refusing to put Sam's baseball glove in the grave. After a heartbroken run through the neighboring woods, Charlie finds Sam's spirit and discovers that Sam can interact with him on the physical plane. After their reunion, Charlie fulfills Sam's dying wish by practicing baseball with him every day at sunset, in the canyon, after the sounding of the cannons.

Five years later, Charlie, who gave up his scholarship and mournful over Sam's loss, is now caretaker at Waterside Cemetery. During a trip into town, Charlie visits the boat docks and meets Tess Carroll (Amanda Crew), a sailor who dreams of one day sailing around the world. The following day, Charlie runs into Florio Ferrente, the paramedic who saved his life. Ferrente is dying of cancer and questions Charlie if he ever wonders why he was saved and tells him there is a reason for his gift. Charlie returns to the cemetery and finds Tess injured, with whom he develops a relationship. Meanwhile, Sam begins to feel that Charlie is forgetting him when Charlie arrives late for their game of catch. However, Tess follows Charlie as he explains to her that the more he is in her world, the less he can be in Sam's.