“Reminders of Him” was released in theaters on March 13, an adaptation of the book released by the popular yet controversial author Colleen Hoover in 2022. The film features a star-studded cast but delivers a lackluster performance that had me leaving the theater feeling like I wasted my time and money.

The movie features Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers in the main roles, with Lauren Graham as a supporting character. I have really enjoyed most of the other pieces these actors have been in, however, Hoover’s boring and predictable material didn’t give the actors much to work with, forcing them to deliver a performance far below their normal caliber.

I went into this movie tired of the typical dialogue and storylines Hoover’s novels and film adaptations typically produce. Her work is morally questionable, often distasteful and down right odd at times.

The particular plot of this film follows Monroe’s character Kenna after she caused a motor vehicle accident that killed her partner Scotty. She falls in love with Scotty’s best friend, Ledger, and questions why the people around her don’t support her decision.

Wither’s character, Ledger, was truly the only redeeming factor of this movie. While not his best performance, he provided emotional complexity and a few laughs in scenes with his surrogate niece Diem. 

Although a minor character, Lady Diana, played by Monika Myers, had some great one-liners and scenes where she truly stole the show. This character has down syndrome in the book and I’m really glad the film adaptation kept this important character detail.

Aside from boring performances that lacked emotion, the storyline of this movie made me shake my head in disbelief. The plot of this movie would never happen in real life, and while I love a good fantasy, that’s not the intended genre here.

It made me question what world these characters live in. The unrealistic nature of the storyline made it nearly impossible to enjoy the book — but the film somehow made it worse. 

You go to prison for killing your partner, get out, fall in love with his best friend and expect everyone to think it’s normal. What planet are we on? There’s only one way to describe this — totally bonkers.

Only one person in this movie reacted appropriately to this whole situation: Bradley Whitford’s character, Patrick Landry. When he discovers Ledger and Kenna’s relationship, he punches Ledger in the face. While I don’t condone violence, it seems like a pretty appropriate reaction coming from Scotty’s father.

Despite my critiques of the movie, I actually did enjoy the soundtrack. The soundtrack featured songs from Noah Cyrus, Lord Huron and Phoebe Bridgers. The music fit surprisingly well within the scenes and added some emotion to an otherwise monotone movie.

To say I was disappointed and surprised by Monroe’s performance would be an understatement, especially following her impressive performance in the 2024 horror movie “Longlegs.” Her role in that film as Lee Harker really showed her acting prowess and ability to tackle difficult roles. While I don’t fault Monroe for her less-than-stellar performance, I’m left wishing she added a bit more to the role of Kenna.

While I didn’t enjoy the movie, I can see how someone would. If you’re looking for a cheesy romance where the plot doesn’t need to make sense, this would be a good recommendation. I would describe this film as a step up from a Hallmark movie.

“Reminders of Him” lured me in with its impressive cast, but left me feeling confused, frustrated and blaming Colleen Hoover for all my life’s problems. Although I’d like to say I won’t go see another one of her adaptations, I know that’s likely not the case.