An emotional but uneven adaptation struggles to fully translate Hoover's novel
Three-hundred-plus-page novels have so many details that it can be very difficult to adapt them into a one-hundred-plus-page screenplay that will actually do the novel justice. Such is the case with Colleen Hoover's book, Reminders of Him. Even though Hoover co-wrote the screenplay, it is obvious that details had been removed, even to someone like me who had not read the book. Luckily, the film manages to evoke all the right emotions, leaving audience members in tears at various points throughout the film. Starring Tyriq Withers (Him) and Maika Monroe (Longlegs), Reminders of Him will open in theaters on March 13, 2026.
Kenna (Monroe) met Scotty (Rudy Pankow; Outer Banks) when he tried to pick her up in the store where she was working. They had a whirlwind romance, but after celebrating Scotty's birthday, they had a car accident, and Scotty died. Little did Kenna know she was pregnant and pled guilty to manslaughter, which earned her 7 years in jail. While there, her daughter, Diem (Zoe Kosovic; The Smashing Machine), has been raised by Scotty's parents, but now that Kenna is released, she has moved back to Laramie, Wyoming, to have a relationship with Diem. However, Scotty's parents and his best friend, Ledger (Withers), don't want that to happen as they think Kenna left Scotty to die and resent her.
As previously mentioned, the issue with the movie is the adaptation because, while Hoover and Lauren Levine, who is new to the world of writing screenplays, do their best to pack a lot into a two-hour timeframe, it just isn't all that possible. For example, the relationship between Kenna and Ledger moves entirely too fast, and you don't get as much tension as one probably should expect from a volatile beginning that eventually warms into an intimate love affair.
Director Vanessa Caswill (Love at First Sight) does what she can with what she is given and does her best to fully flesh out the plot as much as possible. Joining her are the actors Monroe and Withers, who sneak longing glances at one another, leading the audience to the conclusion that they are going to become romantically involved. Kosovic, at her young age, does a very good job next to the adults she is paired with, especially Withers. Their loving, pseudo-father/daughter relationship is a highlight and could melt even the coldest of hearts.
Special Needs actor, newcomer Monika Myers, is great in her supporting role as Lady Diana, mainly due to her terrific comedic timing. She adds some welcome relief from the heavy, somber subject matter of the film. Veteran actors Bradley Whitmore (Get Out) and Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) round out this cast well, portraying Scotty's parents.
There are some wonderful visuals of this well-known small city with a small-town feel. The mountains offer a majestic backdrop, while the winter weather gives the movie a dreary and drab overtone that fits the overall mood well. The rundown Paradise Motel, where Kenna stays, is also a sharp contrast to the suburban lifestyle of Scotty's parents and Ledger's home (they live across the street from one another).
From the beginning, there is a tension and sense of foreboding to the film that permeates almost every scene, taking the audience on a roller coaster ride of emotions. For this viewer, along with others in the audience, the tears started flowing less than an hour into the two-hour run time, and made me leave the movie wiping my eyes at the end. While I don't think many guys will be seeing Reminders of Him in theaters, this movie will definitely become a girls' night out favorite.
Grade: C+
