Review of Charlie St. Cloud (2010) by Oxana — 23 Aug 2014

This is a powerful, touching, different kind of movie that starts strong, continues like that almost all the way to the finish, but in the end something just happens (well, for me it felt like that since I'm not into romantic, happy conclusions). Still an awesome movie.

For some reason, even though I've never seen him on screen before now, I've never put a lot of faith in Zac Efron's acting abilities. I stand corrected. At least in this movie, he did an outstanding job.

Not only is he pleasing to the eye, but his portrayal of Charlie, a young man wounded to the core after playing a part in his beloved younger brother's death, is amazing. He cries, he's agitated, he's withdrawn from real life.

"The more I'm in your world, the less I can be in his.".

That single line sums up Charlie's life after his it was crashed and smashed - and brought back from the other side.

There are some heavy themes here, but they are not underlined or overused. They are there, they live and breathe right alongside Charlie, and in the end he has to make a choice. Even his relationship with Tess is pretty good in the beginning (I just didn't like the smoochy ending, is all).

Well acted, well written, and perfectly executed film all in all. The music, the colors, the scenery, and the characters fit in there and blended into a perfect story.

It's not that much about the paranormal (although I loved it for that as well) than it is about an ability to let go of someone you love. About making a promise - and then breaking it.