If Only (2004)

If Only

This is one of those few movies I'd no idea how to rank when I was done viewing. It's got its heart in the right place, but somehow it still feels kind of moralistic and strangely sappy feelgood.

I really enjoyed Jennifer Love Hewitt in this one. She's one of those actresses that never seems to get her career going like it might have been with a couple of different choices. Here she shows range and capacity. I'm not as impressed by her co-star.

The story is simple enough, but floats on charm, realistic portrait of relationship and heart. Heart goes a long way, but there's still several pieces of the puzzle that doesn't quite make it work in the end.