Based on the Young Adult novel of the same name by Gayle Forman, If I Stay take the tried and trusted afterlife formula and gives it a very teen centric spin. If I Stay isn't just the title, but also what Mia Hall (Chloe Grace Moretz), a musically gifted teenager, is asking herself after she and her family are in a horrific car accident. Tethering on the edge of the land of the living, Mia guides us through the major events of her young life, mainly her failed relationship with rock star on the rise Adam (Jamie Blackley), as she must decide if she wants her life to go on.
While aimed at the teenage audience that makes up the novels readership, If I Stay is refreshingly free of all the trappings that come with most YA adaptions. The audience is never talked down to, and the characters feel fully formed and realised, not just a bunch of traits thrown together to achieve a narrative goal. Sweet and heartbreaking in equal measure, the story moves forward at a leisurely pace, letting us spend as much with these characters as possible. It carefully moves through Mia's life, keeping a steady hand so as not make scenes unbalanced. It would be easy to crank up the dial, and go for the emotional jugular, but If I Stay avoids being over sentimental. That doesn't mean it will take it easy on you. Far from it, as it blindsides you with some heavy drama, but again, it is kept from going over the edge. With music playing an important part in every aspect of Mia's life, music plays a major role in the events of the film, with both rock and classical weaving in and out of the story, delivering great punctuation to some scenes
Moretz is fantastic in the lead role, lending a lot of power to the tragic and joyous events of Mia's life, both pre and post car accident. She makes Mia instantly likable and real, adding a very natural element to the role. Her relationship with Adam also feels real, not going down the road so many other of this type have done before, making it an idealised version of teenage romance. Blackley adds a lot of charm to to his role, though by the end, when the story reaches its emotional crescendo, he is trying too hard, and comes off as forced. If I Stay is littered with small, but important roles, and the supporting cast, including Stacey Keach, Mireille Enos, and Joshua Leonard, do shine at times.
Considering the heavy emotional aspects of the story, If I Stay remains a perfectly balanced, sweet story, buoyed by a fantastic lead performance.
While aimed at the teenage audience that makes up the novels readership, If I Stay is refreshingly free of all the trappings that come with most YA adaptions. The audience is never talked down to, and the characters feel fully formed and realised, not just a bunch of traits thrown together to achieve a narrative goal. Sweet and heartbreaking in equal measure, the story moves forward at a leisurely pace, letting us spend as much with these characters as possible. It carefully moves through Mia's life, keeping a steady hand so as not make scenes unbalanced. It would be easy to crank up the dial, and go for the emotional jugular, but If I Stay avoids being over sentimental. That doesn't mean it will take it easy on you. Far from it, as it blindsides you with some heavy drama, but again, it is kept from going over the edge. With music playing an important part in every aspect of Mia's life, music plays a major role in the events of the film, with both rock and classical weaving in and out of the story, delivering great punctuation to some scenes
Moretz is fantastic in the lead role, lending a lot of power to the tragic and joyous events of Mia's life, both pre and post car accident. She makes Mia instantly likable and real, adding a very natural element to the role. Her relationship with Adam also feels real, not going down the road so many other of this type have done before, making it an idealised version of teenage romance. Blackley adds a lot of charm to to his role, though by the end, when the story reaches its emotional crescendo, he is trying too hard, and comes off as forced. If I Stay is littered with small, but important roles, and the supporting cast, including Stacey Keach, Mireille Enos, and Joshua Leonard, do shine at times.
Considering the heavy emotional aspects of the story, If I Stay remains a perfectly balanced, sweet story, buoyed by a fantastic lead performance.
