The Last Song movie reviews

Nicholas Sparks churns out movies the way James Patterson mass-produces books, and this week his latest adaptation, "The Last Song," comes to theaters. Seems like just yesterday that "Dear John" appeared. (It was early February.) Sparks movies are a known commodity -- reviewers hate them for their tragedy-tinged romance, but viewers love them. Miley Cyrus' starring role is sure to attract even more fans. Here are excerpts of reviews for "The Last Song" (you can read reviews for other book adaptations here):

Los Angeles Times -- There aren't a lot of surprises in store when a film is struck from Nicholas Sparks and is called "The Last Song." There will be young love in the picturesque South, there will be a battery of contrivances keeping those crazy kids apart, and there will be tragedy and much rending of hair.

Variety -- Cyrus, alas, hasn't yet learned not to act with her eyebrows and overbite. But she does show off her considerable chops as a pianist and remains reasonably likable throughout.Chicago Tribune -- "The Last Song" is primarily for teenagers looking for something disposable to cry about for a couple of hours, though I did find it a tad easier to take than "Dear John," which was slicker but more galling in its heartstring-yanking.

Washington Post -- Will "The Last Song" resonate with a certain generation of young women the way, say, "The Notebook" has? I'm not sure. The audience I saw it with responded with as many giggles as sniffles ...

New York Times -- Another big problem is Ms. Cyrus. Her Hannah Montana persona has a certain aggressive charm ... and she seems to be a young celebrity with a good attitude and a strong work ethic. But acting, for the moment at least, seems almost entirely beyond her.

USA Today -- When the story revolves around the romance, it's mostly predictable beach montages and goofy antics. But things improve when gears shift to probe [father Greg] Kinnear's character. His affability invests the sappy tale with some authenticity.