SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: A WALK TO REMEMBER

"A WALK TO REMEMBER"
(2002) (Mandy Moore, Shane West) (PG)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Mild	Mild	Heavy	Mild	None

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	None	Mild	None	Moderate

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Moderate	*None	Moderate	Moderate	Mild

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: Two disparate high school students find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other.

PLOT:

Landon Carter (SHANE WEST) and Jamie Sullivan (MANDY MOORE) may have grown up together in the small town of Beaufort, North Carolina, but they couldn't be more dissimilar. Landon, who lives with his single mom, Cynthia (DARYL HANNAH), is the popular boy in their school who hangs out with the "in crowd" and makes fun of other students such as Jamie.

She's the only daughter of Reverend Sullivan (PETER COYOTE), the town's minister. Rather plain in both attire and looks, Jamie is nevertheless confident in herself and her faith, and doesn't care what others think of her.

When Landon is punished for a hazing incident that went bad and injured fellow student Clay Gephardt (MATT LUTZ), he ends up doing his time by being assigned to tutor disadvantaged students at another school and having to participate in his school's spring play. He isn't thrilled with either prospect, particularly when he sees that Jamie is involved with both of them as well.

Yet, it turns out he's not such a creep when he's by himself, and thus asks Jamie for her help in rehearsing their lines for the play. She reluctantly agrees, and although the two have their differences and he occasionally still treats her poorly, they eventually but unintentionally find themselves falling for each other.

This doesn't sit well with his friends, including Dean (CLAYNE CRAWFORD) and Eric (AL THOMPSON), or his ex-girlfriend, Belinda (LAUREN GERMAN), who's jealous of the attention he's paying to Jamie. Even so, he continues seeing her and begins becoming a better person, while she allows herself to open up and love someone, something she thought she'd never allow.

When a troubling revelation is made, however, the two must deal with the changes it brings to their relationship as well as the various external forces that don't want them to be a couple.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Older pre-teen and younger teenage girls will probably want to see it, as might anyone who's a fan of Mandy Moore (or anyone else in the cast) or of the original novel from which the film is based.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG: For thematic elements, language and some sensual material.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: SHANE WEST plays one of the "cool" students who's condescending toward others, including Jamie. He tries to elude police in one scene and uses some profanity, but eventually comes around and turns out to be a decent guy once he meets and falls for Jamie.
MANDY MOORE plays the only child of the town's minister who's confident both in her faith and who she is. Despite her better judgment, she eventually falls for Landon.
PETER COYOTE plays Jamie's single father, the town's reverend who doesn't trust Landon's intentions toward his daughter.
DARYL HANNAH plays Landon's single mom who wants him to give his estranged father another chance.
LAUREN GERMAN plays Landon's ex-girlfriend who's jealous of Jamie and pulls a mean prank on her.
CLAYNE CRAWFORD plays one of Landon's best friends who also acts condescendingly toward others and can't understand what Landon sees in Jamie.
AL THOMPSON plays Landon's friend who's obsessed with sex and uses some profanity.
MATT LUTZ plays a boy who's severely injured when he allows Landon and others to pressure him into jumping into a body of water as part of his hazing.; MANDY MOORE plays the only child of the town's minister who's confident both in her faith and who she is. Despite her better judgment, she eventually falls for Landon.
PETER COYOTE plays Jamie's single father, the town's reverend who doesn't trust Landon's intentions toward his daughter.
DARYL HANNAH plays Landon's single mom who wants him to give his estranged father another chance.
LAUREN GERMAN plays Landon's ex-girlfriend who's jealous of Jamie and pulls a mean prank on her.
CLAYNE CRAWFORD plays one of Landon's best friends who also acts condescendingly toward others and can't understand what Landon sees in Jamie.
AL THOMPSON plays Landon's friend who's obsessed with sex and uses some profanity.
MATT LUTZ plays a boy who's severely injured when he allows Landon and others to pressure him into jumping into a body of water as part of his hazing.; PETER COYOTE plays Jamie's single father, the town's reverend who doesn't trust Landon's intentions toward his daughter.
DARYL HANNAH plays Landon's single mom who wants him to give his estranged father another chance.
LAUREN GERMAN plays Landon's ex-girlfriend who's jealous of Jamie and pulls a mean prank on her.
CLAYNE CRAWFORD plays one of Landon's best friends who also acts condescendingly toward others and can't understand what Landon sees in Jamie.
AL THOMPSON plays Landon's friend who's obsessed with sex and uses some profanity.
MATT LUTZ plays a boy who's severely injured when he allows Landon and others to pressure him into jumping into a body of water as part of his hazing.; DARYL HANNAH plays Landon's single mom who wants him to give his estranged father another chance.
LAUREN GERMAN plays Landon's ex-girlfriend who's jealous of Jamie and pulls a mean prank on her.
CLAYNE CRAWFORD plays one of Landon's best friends who also acts condescendingly toward others and can't understand what Landon sees in Jamie.
AL THOMPSON plays Landon's friend who's obsessed with sex and uses some profanity.
MATT LUTZ plays a boy who's severely injured when he allows Landon and others to pressure him into jumping into a body of water as part of his hazing.; LAUREN GERMAN plays Landon's ex-girlfriend who's jealous of Jamie and pulls a mean prank on her.
CLAYNE CRAWFORD plays one of Landon's best friends who also acts condescendingly toward others and can't understand what Landon sees in Jamie.
AL THOMPSON plays Landon's friend who's obsessed with sex and uses some profanity.
MATT LUTZ plays a boy who's severely injured when he allows Landon and others to pressure him into jumping into a body of water as part of his hazing.; CLAYNE CRAWFORD plays one of Landon's best friends who also acts condescendingly toward others and can't understand what Landon sees in Jamie.
AL THOMPSON plays Landon's friend who's obsessed with sex and uses some profanity.
MATT LUTZ plays a boy who's severely injured when he allows Landon and others to pressure him into jumping into a body of water as part of his hazing.; AL THOMPSON plays Landon's friend who's obsessed with sex and uses some profanity.
MATT LUTZ plays a boy who's severely injured when he allows Landon and others to pressure him into jumping into a body of water as part of his hazing.; MATT LUTZ plays a boy who's severely injured when he allows Landon and others to pressure him into jumping into a body of water as part of his hazing.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

Here's a brief look at the content found in this drama that's been rated PG. Profanity consists of at least 11 uses of the "s" word, while various other expletives and colorful phrases are also present. Some non-explicit, sexually related comments are made (particularly by one character seemingly obsessed with sex), while some sexual gestures and movements (done solo, with one including a young man comically mimicking both sides of a missionary position encounter) are also present.

Some making out also occurs, while some students doctor a photo by putting the protagonist's face on the body of a shapely and scantily clad woman, and then pass out copies of the photo. Other instances of mean and/or disrespectful behavior are present, as are other bits that might be enticing for some kids to imitate, such as hazing a person to allow them to join a group of friends.

That particular incident involves a boy being pressured to jump from a height into a body of water where he's severely injured, resulting in a scene that may be tense or unsettling for some viewers. A few instances of violence (punching, a car wreck injury) also occur.

Some high school students are noted as drinking beer off camera, while various instances of tense family material are present, including a boy who doesn't get along with his estranged father, and a girl who turns out to have leukemia (and eventually dies from that).

If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for anyone in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you examine our detailed listings more closely for more specific information regarding the film's content.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Landon shows up at an initiation get-together and asks if anyone has any beer. A friend comments that they drank it all back at school and someone jokingly mentions that Landon already had enough.
The next day, the principal displays four empty beer bottles on his desk while meeting with Landon.
In the school play, the performers have imaginary drinks (with one telling another to pour a drink).
Landon's mom has a glass of wine.

BLOOD/GORE: Clay has a little bit of blood on his head after hitting a body of water or something beneath it quite hard.
After his car slams into some barrels, Landon has a cut on his head with trickles of blood down his face.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: After making out with a girl, Dean then pushes her after suddenly becoming angry at something she said.
Landon and his friends are disrespectful to Clay by making him jump from a height into a body of water as an initiation rite to become their friend (at a cement factory at night where they're trespassing). When security guards and police show up, they flee, leaving him injured (after striking the water or something under it quite hard). Landon then tries to elude an officer who pursues him in his car.
They're also disrespectful and mean toward Jamie, making fun of the way she's dressed and her religious faith.
Landon continues to be rude and mean toward Jamie for several more scenes, before finally starting to change his attitude toward her (although he's mean once again after they're friends so that he'll still look cool in front of his old friends).
Belinda and others digitally manipulate a photo and put Jamie's face on the body of a scantily clad woman (the revealing outfit shows part of her bare butt) with the words "Virgin Mary?" next to it, and then pass them out as fliers to everyone at school (we only briefly see the provocative shot).

FRIGHTENING SCENES: After Clay jumps from a height into a body of water as part of an initiation rite of sorts, he comes up floating face down in the water. Landon races out to get him and pulls him over to the side.
Scenes involving a person dying from leukemia (the person collapses and is then in the hospital, etc.) may be disturbing to some viewers.

GUNS/WEAPONS: None.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "Jedi master of bullsh*t," "I think this is bullsh*t," "There's too much bad sh*t in this world," "I feel like sh*t," "You're a little chicken sh*t," "I've got to take a massive piss," "Jackass," "What the hell /is this?" "Bad ass," "Like hell," "Big dope," "Suck," "Freakin'" and "Get the hell out of here."
Landon and his friends make Clay jump from a height into a body of water as part of an initiation rite to become one of their friends (and Landon acts like he's going to jump with him, but then stops at the last moment).
Belinda and others digitally manipulate a photo and put Jamie's face on the body of a scantily clad woman (the revealing outfit shows part of her bare butt) with the words "Virgin Mary?" next to it, and then pass them out as fliers to everyone at school.
Jamie lowers one side of her top (revealing her bare shoulder and part of her bare back) so that Landon can apply a temporary tattoo onto her skin.
Landon and Eric do some sort of handshake ritual that ends with them acting like they're taking a puff from cigarettes that they then put out on each other's body.

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): A mild amount of suspenseful music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): None that we heard, but some songs do contain lyrics that can't be understood.

PROFANITY: At least 11 "s" words, 5 hells, 1 ass, 1 damn and 1 incomplete "Jesus" used as exclamations.

SEX/NUDITY: One of the guys comments, "I've got to take a massive piss," and someone else mentions something about pulling "that thing" out (but we don't see anything).
Some of Landon's friends make out while standing against a vehicle.
Eric mentions something about being ready to "get his freak on" and one of the girls tells him to "put your freak away before you hurt somebody." We also see Dean make a sexual gesture toward one of the girls by putting his hands on either side of his clothed crotch and then doing a pelvic thrust. Eric then mentions that he's ready to get his "groove on" with Belinda (but she blows him off).
Eric makes some sort of sexually related comment that Jamie "might put it on a brother like a pop-tart."
As Landon gives Belinda, his ex-girlfriend, a ride home, she asks him if he wants to come inside, stating that her parents aren't home (he declines, saying it's over between them).
Eric makes some comment about getting the "big booty" woman from "Selena" to be in the school play.
Eric helps Landon rehearse for the play by reading the woman's part. When he's done, he mocks all of that by doing some pelvic thrusting while standing as if having sex with a woman, and then lies down on a bench and acts like a woman having sex, with exaggerated movements and his legs spread.
Upon seeing some girls walk by in short dresses/skirts, Eric mentions that's what he likes about spring.
A few students show a bit of cleavage in a few scenes.
After Landon brings Jamie a sweater as a gift, her father warns her that boys like him have expectations (meaning sexual), but she tells him that it's only a sweater.
Belinda and others digitally manipulate a photo and put Jamie's face on the body of a scantily clad woman (the revealing outfit shows part of her bare butt) with the words "Virgin Mary?" next to it, and then pass them out as fliers to everyone at school (we only briefly see the provocative shot).
Jamie lowers one side of her top (revealing her bare shoulder and part of her bare back) so that Landon can apply a temporary tattoo onto her skin.
Jamie and Landon briefly kiss on a few occasions before becoming boyfriend and girlfriend, and then later do some passionate making out.
As Landon lays down a blanket outdoors at night for he and Jamie (as they view the night sky), she asks, "Are you trying to seduce me?" He then replies, "Why, are you seducible?" She shakes her head no, he states that he figured that and thus brought another blanket so that each has their own.

SMOKING: None, but Landon and Eric do some sort of handshake ritual that ends with them acting like they're taking a puff from cigarettes that they then put out on each other's body.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: We learn that Landon does not get along at all with his father and doesn't want to speak with him. When his father shows up at a school play, Landon blows him off and walks away (the father then tells him not to walk away and Landon replies that he taught him how to). Later, he tells his mother that sending a check once a month does not make a father (but the two eventually reconcile).
Jamie lives with her single father who's somewhat restrictive about her activities.
A parent must deal with their child's sickness and then death.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: Leukemia.
Faith and how different people view that in different ways.
Landon feeling that he has to be mean to Jamie in front of his friends so that he'll still appear cool in their eyes.

VIOLENCE: After making out with a girl, Dean then pushes her after suddenly becoming angry at something she said.
A police car forces Landon's car to crash into some barrels, stopping him and resulting in a bloody cut on his head.
We see some brief violence in an old, sci-fi movie playing on TV (two characters struggling with each other).
After seeing his friends making fun of Jamie, Landon pushes Dean, who then pushes him back. Landon then punches him in the face and Dean then pushes someone aside who tries to intervene.

Reviewed January 17, 2002 / Posted January 25, 2002

Other new and recent reviews include:

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.