Title: Waiting for Forever
Director: James Keach
Starring: Tom Sturridge (2011’s ‘On the Road), Rachel Bilson, Richard Jenkins, Blythe Danner
People can wait years to be reunited with their true love, but it seems like they can’t postpone making money. A mere three months after it hit theaters in a limited released, the independent romantic drama ‘Waiting for Forever’ has been released onto DVD by its studio, PCH Film, without any bonus features. While the movie’s lead actors, Tom Sturridge and Rachel Bilson, have a natural spark and chemistry between them, their connection unfortunately won’t solely sell the DVD.
‘Waiting for Forever’ chronicles Will Donner (played by Sturridge) as he travels across America to follow his childhood friend and love Emma Twist (portrayed by Bilson). Now a famous Hollywood actress, Emma heads back to their hometown in Pennsylvania to see her sick father, Richard (played by Richard Jenkins), who is dying. Will is determined to tell Emma how he feels about her, despite his brother Jim’s (portrayed by Scott Mechlowicz) worries that he is emotionally ill, due to the fact that he still talks to their deceased parents.
Despite Jim’s concerns, his wife Susan (played by Jamie King), Will’s childhood friend Joe (portrayed by Nelson Franklin) and his wife Dolores (played by Nikki Blonsky), all encourage Will to tell Emma he loves her. However, Emma is dating Aaron (portrayed by Matthew Davis), who follows her to Pennsylvania to tell her he forgives her for cheating on him with one of his friends. Emma considers marrying Aaron after Will tells her he has been following her around the country. Aaron becomes upset Will has been following Emma, and has him arrested to keep him away from her.
Even PCH Films didn’t include any bonus features on the DVD to give viewers an insight into how the film was made, ‘Waiting for Forever’ is still a respectable choice for Bilson’s fans. The actress, who is most well-known for her roles on the hit Fox teen series’ ‘The O.C.’ and in the sci-fi movie ‘Jumper,’ proves that she’s able to connect with every character she takes on, no matter the genre. Bilson’s performance makes viewers truly believe Emma is determined to become a successful actress; she wants to get away from her small town and her strained relationship with her mother, Miranda (played by Blythe Danner).
Bilson also has good chemistry with Sturridge, as Emma remains protective of Will, despite learning that he has been following her. Even though Aaron wants to marry Emma, Bilson makes her character seem like she’d be willing to give him up to protect her naive childhood friend, despite his behavior and personality. Bilson’s connection with Sturridge also rises from his believability as Will. The actor makes it seem as though Will truly believes there’s nothing wrong with following Emma across the country, as he’s doing it out of love. He’s willing to devote his entire life to trailing his childhood friend, as he is content with just the possibility of seeing her. Will’s determination to not overstep his boundaries and willingness to please Emma makes him a refreshing, unique protagonist.
While Bilson and Sturridge work well together and connected to their characters, there’s unfortunately nothing distinct about ‘Waiting for Forever’s plot. Screenwriter did Steve Adams make a commendable effort to create characters dealing with such realistic issues as undying childhood love and abandonment. The themes of the movie, which was helmed by James Keach, who is primarily known for directing television movies and shows, seem like they would be better suited for the small screen; they encourage people not to be afraid to go after what they want, and to instead listen to their hearts.
The ‘Waiting for Forever’ DVD is a great choice for Bilson’s fans who are interested in seeing her expand her acting abilities in a new genre. Unfortunately, the disc’s lack of any bonus features may turn off other potential audiences, who are interested in seeing how the film was made and how her connection to Sturridge developed off-screen.
Technical: B-
Acting: B+
Story: B
Overall: B
Written by: Karen Benardello
