Director: George C Wolfe

The 2002 film Unfaithful was a surprise hit with critics and fans alike largely on the performance of Diane Lane as a devoted wife caught up in an adulterous affair. It made you pardon even the accent of a very, very pretentious Olivier Martinez, while Richard Gere got by doing what he does best - being honourably distinguished, even when doing not so honourable stuff.

Nights in Rodanthe is obviously hoping for some of that magic here, while casting Lane and Gere in just opposite roles. Instead of husband and wife who survive an extra-marital relationship, they are two people coming out of broken marriages drawn towards each other apparently by some good food, great music and an astonishing house by the sea. The rest all is incidental.

Nights...is based on a book by the same name by Nicholas Sparks, and we all know by now his particular fascination with love by the seaside, dotted by walks along the seashore, lapped by waves. Yes, that is right, he was the guy behind the Message in a Bottle.

What Message... achieved in long-drawn-out mushiness, Nights... does in boredom. Adrienne, the tired mother, the neglected wife, has nothing of Lane in her, even when she falls in love with Gere's fancy doctor, writes heartfelt letters and discovers an old passion for wood-carving. Instead, she has a penchant for snooping into other people's private mails and conversations and dishing out advice with no real meaning.

Gere is a plastic surgeon who has just seen a patient die on his operation table. Cold and professional, he is obviously a transformed man by the end, even climbing mountains to help poor old Ecuadorians. Better, the patient's husband "pardons" him after they exchange a tear over the portrait of the dead lady.

Lane and Gere's affair is so singularly uninteresting that even the contrived ending is a relief. Think of it this way. For 10 minutes before it, we are read out letters which the two 40-plus lovers (Gere, who is always right on the wrong side of 30, has a 28-year-old doctor-son) write to each other. Suffice it to say, those letters don't leave any doubt about the nature of their "true love". This is that kind of film.

shalini.langer@expressindia.com