Reminders of Him, the romantic drama starring Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers, is out now in the UK. Based on Colleen Hoover’s 2022 novel of the same name, the film has divided critics upon its release.
The drama sees Monroe portray Kenna Rowan, an ex-convict who tries to acclimate back into society. She spent seven years in jail for her part in a car accident, which claimed the life of her then-boyfriend Scotty.
Upon her return to her hometown, Kenna attempts to find her daughter Diem, but finds herself shunned by Scotty’s family and the local community. One exception is Ledger (Withers), a bar manager who looks past Kenna’s traumatic background.
Universal
Related: UK film release dates: Find out when all the latest movies are coming to cinemas
Directed by Vanessa Caswill from a screenplay by Hoover and Lauren Levine, Reminders of Him is now finally available to watch in UK cinemas following multiple delays, with the film being released on Friday (13 March).
In addition to Monroe and Withers, the cast for the film includes Rudy Pankow, Lauren Graham, Bradley Whitford, Lainey Wilson and Jennifer Robertson. Hoover, whose other works include It Ends with Us and Regretting You, also serves as a producer.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Reminders of Him currently has a mixed approval rating of 58% from 73 reviews, with the consensus being that the performances are good in spite of the overly sentimental screenplay.
You can read a selection of reviews below:
“It is so preoccupied with tragedy that the romance becomes secondary. Now, after our third Hoover adaptation, it feels like we’re getting love with diminishing returns. There’s less to enjoy, even if the movie is almost two hours long.”
“Thankfully, this latest adaptation of a Colleen Hoover best-seller has a secret weapon: actress Maika Monroe, whose film-noir eyes radiate the loss, hurt, and disappointment that Reminders of Him is otherwise all too eager to paper over.”
“While not a slam-dunk, Vanessa Caswill’s Reminders of Him is easily the best Hoover film adaptation yet, bolstered by strong performances and an emotional centre that does not primarily rely on some kind of tortured romance (though, that’s there, too!).”
Universal
Related: Rosamund Pike brands her 2005 sci-fi with Dwayne Johnson “one of the worst films ever made”
“Director Vanessa Caswill and co-screenwriters Lauren Levine and Hoover manage to effectively sweep you into the melodramatic proceedings… It helps that the characters are all sympathetic and appealingly played.”
“While It Ends With Us and Regretting You contained at least some decent acting and production value, Reminders of Him is a grim dose of misery and trauma porn punctuated by a terrible lead performance and an undeniable conservative sheen.”
Reminders of Him is out now in UK cinemas.
The new edition of Living Legends, a 100-page all-colour celebration of Harry Styles, is here! Buy Harry Styles in newsagents or online.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. Â His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
Â