St. Cloud Brothers Sailing

Charlie St. Cloud Poster

Amanda Crew

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Why is Zac Efron Starring into Space?

Looking at my watch, yawning and thoughts of utter puzzlement sum up my reactions to Zac Efron’s new film, Charlie St. Cloud. I simply felt no connection to the transcendental storyline; in my mind it was not believable. After that, the thought of another film came into my head that kept repeating, “I see dead people.” It was over, as not much going forward was going to bring me back. I adored Zac’s work in 17 Again and Me and Orson Wells. I believe it was the directing here. Zac stares continually into space as he’s supposed to look somewhat crazy, I assume. It is just very strange in my book.

The film is billed as a romantic drama and based on the best selling book by Ben Sherwood, “The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud.” Zac plays Charlie St. Cloud in a small seaside picturesque town who survives an accident. His younger brother, Sam, played by Charlie Tahan is not so lucky. Grief stricken Charlie decides to devote his life to the care of his brother’s cemetery and meet him each night at sunset to play catch. Fast-forward five years, Charlie has given up his college scholarship and lives a similar life to a hermit.

His mom, Kim Basinger, is in the first couple of scenes but mysteriously disappears from his life and from the remainder of the film. You’d think she’d want to at least look after her now ‘only’ son but that was not the case. Charlie is alone in his grief until he meets Tess, Amanda Crew of (The Haunting in Connecticut, She’s the Man). Tess is a former high school classmate and shares Charlie’s one time passion for sailing. They begin to fall for each other but Sam continues to hold Charlie back as Charlie says to Tess, “I can’t loose Sam, the more I’m in your world the less I’m in his.”

The romantic scenes between Tess and Charlie are sweet and touching, we do see that he’s trying to make sense of everything but becomes consumed in his grief. Ray Liotta (Goodfellas and Date Night) plays the ambulance driver who revived Charlie and also becomes a friend. He warns Charlie about the hermit life he’s leading and the consequences of such actions. My thoughts were, where is his mother? We know from the story that his dad is a loser and took off years ago. I don’t understand the behavior of the mom here.

The sailing action sequences are a big part of the film and the cinematography is stunningly beautiful. Tess is a skilled sailor and a one point in the film she looks so gorgeous on the boat amid the sunset that she could be an advertisement for Nautica clothing line. She hopes to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world and is very determined in her quest.

Will Tess and Charlie be able to live a life together? Will Charlie be able to let Sam go? Does the hunky-eye candy, Charlie, continue to live the life of a hermit? All of these questions will be answered in the film. The one question teen girls want to know is does Zac take his shirt off in the film? Yes, indeed he does.

Bottom-line, I didn’t connect with the film, you have to believe in the story to take the film seriously and find meaning. Perhaps your viewing experience will be better than mine as I had high hopes considering I am a Zac Efron fan.

Sarah Adamson © July 29, 2010