Richard Roeper
Jan 27, 2026
Nick Cassavetes' "The Notebook" has become one of the most enduring romantic dramas of the 21st century, and for good reason. Based on Nicholas Sparks' novel, the film weaves together two timelines: the passionate summer romance between Allie (Rachel McAdams) and Noah (Ryan Gosling) in 1940s South Carolina, and the tender present-day scenes of an elderly man (James Garner) reading their story to a woman (Gena Rowlands) in a nursing home. The frame narrative isn't just structural cleverness—it gives the young love story weight and stakes, reminding us that every courtship has an ending, and the best ones last a lifetime.
McAdams and Gosling share genuine, crackling chemistry. Their scenes at the carnival, in the rain, and on the porch feel lived-in rather than performed. Gosling's Noah is earnest without being cloying, while McAdams navigates Allie's conflict between obligation and desire with remarkable subtlety. The supporting cast—including Garner and Rowlands, who bring decades of shared history to their roles—grounds the melodrama in something recognizable and true.
Cassavetes keeps the sentiment honest. There are no cheap tricks, just steady accumulation of detail. The production design evokes both the sun-drenched nostalgia of the past and the muted tones of the present. Marc Shaiman's score does its job without overwhelming. Yes, "The Notebook" will make you cry. But it earns those tears through craft, not manipulation. Twenty years on, it remains the gold standard for mainstream romance done right.
