The Choice (2016)

The Choice is the kind of romantic drama that wins you over not with grand reinvention, but with a warm, coastal ease and two leads whose chemistry makes even familiar beats feel sincerely lived-in. Ross Katz keeps the tone gentle and inviting—there’s humor in the neighborly sparring, a soft glow in the Wilmington setting, and an emotional current that gradually deepens into something sturdier than flirtation. When the story pivots into heavier territory, it earns its tears through devotion and performance rather than melodrama, letting love look like patience and presence. If you’re allergic to Nicholas Sparks-style sentiment or want your romance sharper-edged, it may feel too tender, but if you’re in the mood for an earnest, comforting cry, this one delivers.

The Choice is clearly aiming for that Nicholas Sparks-style comfort romance: pretty coastal scenery, attractive leads, and a big “love conquers all” test that’s meant to leave you misty-eyed. The problem is it plays like a checklist of familiar beats, with conflicts that feel manufactured and emotional moments that can come off as pushy rather than earned. If you need believable character choices and subtle writing, this will likely feel glossy, predictable, and a bit manipulative. If you’re in the mood for an easy, old-fashioned tearjerker with mild PG-13 heat and a gentle tone, it’s serviceable and occasionally charming, just don’t expect anything fresh.