There are only three words you need to know when it comes to R.J. Cutler’s “If I Stay,” and it’s not the title. It’s Chloë Grace Moretz.
Seriously, what can she not do? She’s been a vampire, a pint-sized assassin andCarrie White. She manages to bring an authenticity to each of these roles.
Adding to her impressive repertoire, Moretz wholly embodies Mia Hall, an introverted musical prodigy and the main character of the film.
Did I mention she mastered the cello in seven months for this role?
Based on a young adult novel by Gayle Forman that I did not read, “If I Stay” attempts to infuse depth into the cheesy teen-drama genre and almost succeeds.
Mia begins the film as blessed as a teen can be in dreary, angsty Portland. She’s Juilliard-bound, beautiful and hasmade rocker heartthrob Adam (Jamie Blackley) fall for her. Her family is the hip, supportive, ginger family you never had and her best friend Kim (Liana Liberato) is a loyal and unwavering presence in her life.
Then, just as quickly as it takes you to say, “Pass the Kleenex,” Mia’s seemingly perfect life shatters when she and her family are in a car accident. Comatose, Mia reviews her life – both the good and the bad – in a series of flashbacks and narratives as she struggles with the decision to live or die.
Predictably, the string of flashbacks begins with the day Kim notices Adam’s interest in Mia, which I have to admit, made me slightly uncomfortable at first. Maybe I’m just single and bitter, but Adam’s intensity is more off-putting than romantic. I guess we can just blame hormones and the fact that they live in Oregon.
As the centerpiece of the film, their love story is disappointingly predictable.
It’s essentially “Twilight” without vampirism and necrophilia, down to the brooding male and morose female leads who just can’t seem to fit in each other’s worlds. However, Mia and Adam are actually likable, and you’ll find yourself smiling, crying and rooting for them when the filmmakers want you to.
We all remember – probably too vividly – the trials and tribulations of high school romances: the excruciatingly painful first dates, the awkward interactions between our parents and significant others and naively deluding ourselves with the notion that “true love” actually exists.
Adam and Mia’s story includes all of this, and, while I really wanted to scoff at them, I actually found the chunk of ice in my chest melting a bit.
That aside,the most poignant moment in the film is not when Adam finally writes Mia a song and sings it at her bedside. It comes in a heart-wrenching moment from Mia’s grandfather, scene-stealer Stacey Keach, in which he tearfully gives her permission to die. This – coupled with Mortez’s performance throughout – validated the drama in such a way that I could forgive the numerous clichés riddling the plot.
“If I Stay” really wants to be profound, but just like the guy that studies Buddhism for a semester and starts quoting the Dalai Lama at parties, everyone can see right through the attempt and some may even roll their eyes. And since the guy is nice, everyone lets it go.
Ultimately, this movie is just like that.
“If I Stay” is a decent entry in the teen drama genre, and it’s worth seeing solely for Chloë Mortez’s performance. Get ready for the waterworks.
Rating: B-
-Colton Herrington
