The Notebook: get ready to bawl.

Ahhh The Notebook. I’m sure we can all recall that gut wrenching tale. 

I remember the first time I watched this movie in 2010. I was in high school, I had my first boyfriend (hey Cody) and I was fully and unequivocally in love. A tale like this was truly going to strike a chord with me. In my head, Cody and I were a modern day Noah and Allie. If you haven’t seen this movie, I’m not sure what you’ve been doing for the past almost 20 years of your life! You need to pause whatever you’re doing IMMEDIATELY and at least do your soul a little good by watching the trailer here. 

The movie takes place in the 40’s and immediately I was hooked. They did a pretty stellar job of casting a couple of absolute stunners. Rachel McAdams was breathtakingly beautiful throughout the entire movie, even when she was bawling her eyes out, which is rude because who gave her permission?! The other star who managed to grab the attention of every single woman AND man alive was Ryan Gosling. He was charming, thoughtful, and handsome as hell in this movie. In the chance you’re STILL swooning over him, which let’s be real – you are, here’s your new favourite website to keep up on all things R-Gos.

Alright – enough about the hotties. Now let’s get into the real meat and potatoes of the obsession with this movie, the story. It starts with two young teens who come from completely different worlds and they may not just be meant for each other. For me, as a 16 year old girl, this was so relatable. I was a city girl (not really, I’m from North Bay) and Cody was from a small town (a true fact but the small town was just outside of mine LOL.) He liked dirtbikes and I loved shopping. A story like this, where I could see myself in it, had me HOOKED no questions asked. 

Now back to the movie, where Noah and Allie spent a summer falling in love. It evoked such emotion in me. You could see how much they really loved each other and just how much they meant to one another. Allie’s mother however, felt a completely different way. She makes Allie break up with him, claiming he’s no good for her. Allie’s mom tells her they’re leaving their summer home tomorrow and that she has to say goodbye to Noah that night. Noah writes to her for 365 days, a letter every freaking day, and they all go unanswered. It appears they both go their separate ways for many years. Allie even gets engaged to someone else. (THE HORROR. Although James Marsden was a cutie.) Fate finally brings them back together and they eventually stop denying the obvious connection they have. They end up together and live what is presumed to be happily ever after. Although, there was something else going on in the movie.

Throughout the story, they flash back and forth between the 1940’s tale and what looks to be present day. At the beginning, we weren’t really sure of the connection here but as the story develops there’s a sinking feeling in the bottom of your tummy that makes you realize that the woman suffering from dementia present day is the same carefree girl we came to love, Allie. 

The whole time during the movie an older man, who we now know to be Noah, is reading a tale to an elderly woman, Allie. Initially it looks like he’s just reading to her but in reality, he’s trying to get her to remember THEIR OWN LOVE STORY. I was gutted. It was this moment for me that added a completely new depth to the story that still to this day invokes a visceral reaction. As the movie nears its end Allie remembers the story and realizes it’s her and Noah. They only have a few moments before her brain forgets again and we’re left devastated that this is now Noah’s reality. Cue this face: 

The movie ends in the most beautiful but freaking sad way where they both pass away in each other’s arms and can tell you that there wasn’t enough tissue in the world then for me to suppress my boogery sobs and as a matter of fact there still isn’t enough to this day. 

When I watch the movie back with my fiance (surprise it’s not Cody it’s my hunka, hunka  burning love cutie JP) I really understand all of the story and why it gets me so emotional. It’s one that could happen to any of us. We all have someone we care for deeply, someone that the love feels so high stakes with. That losing it would just be the most impossible thing in the world. It’s also a sad fact of reality, one day we WILL lose that person. The movie is incredible and I still think about it when I think of how I want to love and be loved. 

I recommend you watch it. It’s a really fantastic story and also a very good emotional release. Just make sure that if you are going to check it out, that you buy this before you do so.

Enjoy!

Michelle