Review of Charlie St. Cloud (2010) by Chelsealee B — 30 Dec 2010

I decided to watch this film, straight after I'd read the book, which was both engaging and emotional, overall a brilliant heart-warming book. I wanted to see if the film held the same standards of the novel, which I am pleased to say, it did just that.

At first I was a little weary about the fact the lead was played by Zac Efron, who obviously is known for his roles in the High School Musical movies. However, his acting in Charlie St. Cloud was absolutely brilliant, showing he is capable of serious dramatic roles, and not just singing and dancing!

Same can be said for Amanda Crew, who played Tess, showing off her exceptional acting abilities, and portraying Tess perfectly.

The film itself had a few minor changes, in which I was disappointed, such as the age differences from the book, and the way Charlie falls in love with Tess before she turns into a spirit, which readers know is not the case in the original story. Also, the year leap in the movie is 5 years, and in the novel it is 13 years, which is significant when showing Charlie's commitment to himself and his brothers promise, and as a result is not as effective in the film, and the story is told too quickly.

However, due to the casting, and the directors abilities, the story was told magnificently, and all round staying mostly true to the book, which is always important!