Romantic dramas are typically drenched in maudlin sentimentality, and with this, they have a tendency to drip with saccharine and mediocrity. When Nicholas Sparks novels started to become movies, i.e. "The Notebook", "Dear John", "The Vow", etc., this genre definitely improved with more original scripts even though the premises still were sentimental. Even though "Midnight Sun" isn't a Sparks film, the writer was surely inspired by his style.
This story is a romantic tearjerker about 17 year-old Katie Price (Bella Thorne), sheltered at home since childhood with a rare genetic condition, XP or xeroderma pigmentosm, a life-threatening sensitivity to sunlight. Having only her father Jack (Rob Riggle) for company, Katie's world opens up after dark when she ventures outside to play her guitar. One night, her dreams come true when she's noticed and asked out by her longtime crush Charlie Reed (Patrick Schwarzenegger), whom she secretly watched from her bedroom window for years. As they embark on nightly summer excursions, Katie's risk to sunlight grows and she's presented with the dilemma of being honest with Charlie and risk losing him or hiding her secret and suffering the consequences. With her friends to support her including Morgan (Quinn Shepherd) and Garner (Nicholas Coombe), she must make that decision before it's too late.
Others to round out the cast are Ken Tremblett as Mark Reed, Jean Griffin as Barb, Tiera Skovbye as Zoe Carmichael, Alex Pangburn as Wes and Guy Christie as Swim Coach.
This was directed with sentimentality, however not in a maudlin way by Scott Speer ("The LXD: The Secrets of the Ra" '11, "Step Up Revolution" '12, "Status Update" '18) plus TV and video shorts. Most of the cast has limited experience, but with this filmmaker, the realism of these actors were delineated well by Speer. It was adequately written by Eric Kirsten based on the Japanese motion picture screenplay "Taiyo no uta" by Benji Bando. There was a bit of choppiness with this storyline, however considering this is the only experience this screenwriter has, makes this script superb. Truly nothing Academy worthy here, but the characters were defined in a consistent and realistic demeanor. Patrick Schwarzenegger had a good presence on screen and since he's Arnold's son, he will surely pursue this same field. Interesting that the fatal disease, xeroderma pigmentosm is an actual condition. Symptomatically, it seems to be a fictional disease, but as the end of the movie states, it clearly exists and gives the audience a website to learn more about it.
If you like Nicholas Sparks films, you'll love this, because whether this writer knows it or not, this was basically a homage to a fair deal of Sparks' films. This certainly tugs the heart and lets us all know that We need to lean on one another and visa versa.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: PG-13 91mins.
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