Hey there, movie lovers! I recently watched The Longest Ride for the first time, and I have some thoughts that I just had to share.
At first, I thought I knew what I was in for, a classic tale of a city girl falling for a rugged bull rider. And that part of the story was totally there, with all the romantic ups and downs you could wish for. But there was so much more!
Out of nowhere, the movie introduces this whole other side involving an old man and flashbacks to his life with his wife. It was such a heartfelt addition, but honestly, it felt like I was watching two separate movies at the same time. Each story on its own was beautiful and touching, but together the stories kinda felt forced together rather than blended together.
Don’t get me wrong—I loved it! But it got me thinking: wouldn’t it be amazing to have a full movie just about the girl and bull rider, and another full movie dedicated to the old man’s story? Both had so much going on that I feel like they deserved their own spotlight.
The two stories thing reminded me a lot of The Notebook, which I think did a better job of blending two stories into one cohesive film. In The Longest Ride, switching between the young love story and the old couple’s past sometimes felt a bit jarring, whereas The Notebook managed to blend the past and present together so seamlessly.
Overall, The Longest Ride is a great watch, filled with romance, drama, and heartfelt moments. If you haven’t seen it yet, I definitely recommend giving it a shot. Just be prepared for the back and forth of the two stories. It might feel like you’re watching two movies in one, but both are worth the ride.