Adapting books to film can be a tricky business. A former employer of mine, also a film expert with his own public-radio show, stated: "Good books don't make good movies. Mediocre books make good movies." Now, "good" and "mediocre" are subjective terms, but Gayle Forman's bestselling young adult novel "If I Stay" is nothing if not melodramatic, and its film adaptation is the same. However, solid characters and a mature, subdued Chloƫ Grace Moretz make the film watchable.
"If I Stay" follows 17-year-old Mia (Moretz), a black sheep in her family. Born to a former punk drummer (Joshua Leonard) and "riot grrrrl" (Mireille Enos), Mia prefers classical music and is waiting for the results of her cello audition for Juilliard. Despite this predilection, Mia falls for Adam (Jamie Blackley), a rising star in the Portland rock scene. When their relationship is put to the test, and Mia and her family are the victims of a severe car wreck, Mia must make the ultimate life-or-death decision.
The film is too long for its own good and overuses the following: 360-degree camera shots, soft focus, montages and swelling music. To reiterate, it's melodrama. Perhaps its biggest fault is Mia's voiceover narration. Voiceover is rarely effective, and used in a film geared toward teens, it has the effect of an after-school special or Lifetime Original Movie. Plus, Blackley doesn't possess the charisma of a budding rock 'n' roll frontman. To be fair, casting this type of character is an issue in a lot of movies. (As awful as "Rock of Ages" was, Tom Cruise was a perfect choice to play a music icon. His innate charm and energy popped off the screen.)
However, there's much to like about "If I Stay." Leonard and Enos are letter-perfect as aging scenesters turned devoted parents, and Stacy Keach has some nice moments as Mia's gruff but supportive grandfather. Though she could cut back on the lip-biting, Moretz is an excellent fit for intelligent, introspective Mia, and her speaking voice is positively lovely. The last third of the film is quietly powerful and rewarding, particularly the final shot. And costume designer Monique Prudhomme deserves kudos for giving Mia a sweet, preppy look. She's not frumpy or "uglied down," just a different style from her parents and boyfriend. Also, Mia's father's wardrobe is exactly as it is in the book ā a nice nod to readers.
At its heart, "If I Stay" is a romance with a healthy dose of family dynamics thrown in for good measure. It's one of those young adult novels without the crossover appeal that's become so prevalent in the genre: Both book and film versions will speak more to teenagers than adults. That said, it's not a bad read, or watch, for the grownup set.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE_4mxeWI2A]