So much average

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

I cannot understand why a director chooses to take a popular and well loved book and change everything about it. I could live with some elements changing but the foundation of this story is love and letting the past go and neither were portrayed well. Not keeping the letters the same was a huge mistake. Deanna doesn't feature and turning Jeb into a grumpy old man rather than the lovable and wise man featured in the books is beyond me. Kevin becomes jason and is younger so doesn't feature however despite garrets death being an accident there's a letter waiting for him for reasons I cannot comprehend. I do not recommend in any way shape or form watching this movie. Even if it wasn't a book first the movie is full of cliches. Loses it's simple elegance. Awful.

Why, Paul Newman and Kevin Costner ? Why ? This movie is plot less, is the classic chick flick with no story, just constant cheesy maudlin soundtrack in the background for every single line. The story is half developed, the ending lazy, incomprehensible, you're not sure exactly what the message in a bottle holds any meaning.Some many cliché, the dead wife in an plane crash, the feud between the two families, the boss that is super nice and friendly, two people that fall in love in a span of one date. I don't understand how two great actors could have agreed, and it wasn't for a great pay, to star in such a bland picture.

If you are planning on watching this movie. Do not read the book or you will be disappointed. Because I read the book first, I can't get past giving this movie a 5. It fallowed the book about 10% of the time. The book, in my opinion was way better.The book states that Garrett is younger then Theresa. However in the movie it is visibly noticeable that Garrett is older then Theresa. Which bothers me greatly.The movie, by itself, was a good movie. It is not top on my Nickolas Sparks movie list though.

While strolling on a beach one day Robin Wright Penn finds a letter in a bottle. Back in the old days stranded sailors were known to send distress messages in such items in the hopes the letters would be found and they would be rescued.But this bottle contains a message that's a beautifully composed love letter. Penn's been the odd woman out in a triangle that broke up her marriage and she's a naturally cynical creature. When she shows the letter to her boss editor/columnist Robbie Coltrane who prints it and writes an editorial in praise of it. It gets a really big response from folks touched by it.A little forensic science determines the origin of the letter to be Wilmington, North Carolina and the author to be carpenter/shipbuilder Kevin Costner. A man with that kind of poetry in his soul is guaranteed to move even the once burned Robin Wright Penn.Message In A Bottle is an old fashioned love story guaranteed to melt the most cynical of hearts. Also featured is Paul Newman who is Costner's father who has the wisest old head around. Hard to believe the guy who played Hombre and Cool Hand Luke is now playing wise elderly folks, but Paul Newman grew not just in age, but in expanding his once in a lifetime talent as well.If you think you've seen all the romantic pictures there are and know how this one is coming out then you're in for a shock if you see Message In A Bottle. But it's a worthwhile experience nevertheless.