Reminders of Him is based on a best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover, author of the New York Times hit It Ends with Us. Hoover, who helped adapt the screenplay, has stated the movie is “not a copy of the book but a complement to it.”
Director Vanessa Caswill is well known for her work in television. This is only her second feature film. Her first film was the Netflix feature hit Love at First Sight in 2023. She has proven that she is good with romance stories. That is why I am surprised that it takes the first third of the film to find its footing. I am unsure if this slow start stems from the script, the direction, or Maika Monroe’s portrayal of the lead character, Kenna Rowan. In the early part of the film, Monroe’s depiction of Kenna’s pain feels stiff and doesn’t fully convey the character’s emotional turmoil, making it less believable. However, the film’s energy and her performance become more convincing once Kenna meets her romantic interest, at which point the story gains momentum.
Reminders of Him follows Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe), who, after leaving prison, returns to her hometown to try and connect with her young daughter Diem (Zoe Kosovic). Struggling to find acceptance in a town that does not look kindly at ex-cons, she gets a job at a store where she first met the love of her old life, Scotty (Rudy Pankow).
Now Kenna is living on the edge of town, in a shady pay-by-the-month kind of place. Having to walk everywhere, she pops into the old bookstore where she and Scotty used to hang out. It has been turned into a bar. There, she meets the owner, Ledger Ward (Tyriq Withers), who must decide whether to get close to this woman he is attracted to or keep his distance when he learns her identity. The film centers on Kenna’s effort to face her past and reunite with her daughter.
This movie features a great supporting cast, including Bradley Whitford and Lauren Graham as Scotty’s parents, Diem’s father. Both of these actors are strong players who were given little to do. Even the child who plays Diem (Zoe Kosovic) at such a young age shows she has the chops to handle much more. It’s too bad that there was not enough written for them all to really sink their teeth into and elevate the film as a whole. However, I will tell you that one of the best supporting elements of this film is the soundtrack, which almost steals the show. The cover of Yellow by Morgan Harper-Jones is haunting, and the film’s closing song, Light Over the Hill, by Noah Cyrus, will have people looking up the playlist on their way home.
I give Reminders of Him 3 stars. It’s a formulaic romantic drama that will satisfy most of the fans of the original novel. I would consider waiting to enjoy it once it is streaming on all the platforms. It is worth a viewing even if just for the killer soundtrack.
Directed by: Vanessa Caswill
Written by: Lauren Levine, Colleen Hoover
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1 h 54 min
Tragedy/ Romance
Wide Release: In Theaters March 13th
Starring: Maika Monroe, Bradley Whitford, Tyriq Whithers, Lauren Graham, Zoe Kosovic