Forever My Girl is a feel-good movie that offers a counterpoint to the dystopian and dysfunctional stories that Hollywood seems to prefer. This is one of those movies that goes straight-to-Hallmark-channel where others of the same caliber might be called straight-to-video. It's not a bad film. It has redeeming qualities. But it definitely has that Hallmark feel as well.
Liam Page (Alex Roe) is a musician whose career takes off at precisely the wrong time. The day of his wedding, he makes a conscious choice of career over family, leaving Josie (Jessica Roth) alone at the altar. Page numbs himself with alcohol and cheap relationships, but he clings to Josie through a voicemail message she left him years ago. When eight years pass, the death of a high school friend draws Page back home. His small town hasn't forgotten the fact that he has forgotten them. His fame elsewhere does not translate to his home town.
When Page realizes that he has a daughter, Billy (Abby Ryder Fortson), he begins to reassess his priorities. His father, the town's beloved preacher gives him a bit of tough love as a wake up call. Slowly, the community begins to warm to Page, as his publicist spins lies to the paparazzi about where he is. When Page begins to have doubts about his worthiness to be a father, he slips back into his old ways, threatening all the positive changes he has experienced.
Forever My Girl is hackneyed and predictable. It is everything I tend to complain about. There is nothing new to see with this film. The plot is predictable from the first scene. To make matters worse, I have never been a fan of country music. So why did I enjoy this film? I'm not sure. The dialogue wasn't that sharp, the acting was decent but not exceptional and the characters could have used a bit more depth. But I liked it. Maybe it's the fact that this film has a heartbeat. The story is heartwarming. With a deluge of negative stories coming out of Hollywood, sometimes it is nice to see a story that makes you feel good. In that sense, Billy is the sun that this film revolves around. Her performance, as well as her character gave this film the heartbeat it needed to succeed.
For a seven-year-old, Billy knows a lot. Her character should not be credible. But the character is a bit of a savant. She can play the guitar just by watching her dad play. Not any actor could make that role believable. So the casting of Abby Ryder Fortson in the role was a coup. I don't recall Fortson's performance in Antman, but I won't forget her going forward. She nailed this role, carrying the film in many ways. Without her character combined with her performance, I don't think this film would have resonated with me. Roe and Roth weren't bad, but their performances were stable...they didn't bowl me over. There were other characters that were simply undeveloped and under-acted, making the casting a mixed bag.
One other positive about Forever My Girl was the pacing. The film moved along nicely, finishing at a solid one hour and forty-two minutes. It didn't dwell too long on the ending, giving a rewarding finish without dragging its feet. That was definitely a redeeming quality. The film received a PG rating for language and alcohol use. This film is tame compared to your average episode of Family Guy. I wouldn't restrict this film by age. It is a wholesome feel-good movie. Good for family viewing.
Forever My Girl didn't get great reviews on IMDb. It appears to be hovering right around 6.1. Not exactly an endorsement. Considering the film was shot on a three million dollar budget, I have to say that I'm impressed. The film had a decent soundtrack (from a guy who doesn't listen to country), good pacing, a few decent characters and performances and a heartbeat. Yes, it is predictable. Yes, some of the characters are flat. Yes, some of the dialogue is weak. With those negatives in mind, I still give this film a recommendation. Worth seeing at matinee prices, or waiting to see on video. But worth watching if you like movies that make you feel good. 7/10.
