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Currently Watching The Lake House (Widescreen Edition) By Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Christopher Plummer, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Dylan Walsh see related

2006 wasn't quite the year for romantic-comedies (or dramas for that matter), so this film spiked some interest in me. This fact coupled with stars Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves playing opposites (second pairing since the successful "Speed" twelve years ago) finally led to me to Netflix it.

The story follows a lonely doctor and a frustrating architect communicating via letter-writing exactly two years apart through their individual stays at a lake house near Illinois, Chicago. They eventually fall in love and together look for the missing piece that will unite them in time. It's plot definitely feels familiar but Reeves and Bullock continue their smooth on-screen chemistry to pull off most of the romance. The largest drawback for me was the time travel concept, which can really give you a headache if you try to think it out (I suggest you don't). But if you suspend logic, you may find yourself drawn to the emotions along with the luscious, arresting visuals from director Alejandro Agresti. All in all, a beautiful film that satisfies the Hollywood heart in each of us.

Bottom line: Convoluted plot puts this House in deep water, but lead performances and emotional resonances bring it back up.