I love a good romance, in a book or a movie. When I saw the trailers for Reminders of Him, it looked like the kind of film I want to see. After watching the movie, I can say that I found it romantic and emotional, full of heartbreak but also hope with great acting.
Reminders of Him is a romantic drama film directed by Vanessa Caswill from a screenplay by Colleen Hoover and Lauren Levine, based on the 2022 novel by Hoover. In the movie, Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe) returns to her hometown in Wyoming after spending seven years in prison for a horrible mistake. She hopes to be able to reunite with her daughter, Diem (Zoe Kosovic), who she has never known, who lives with her paternal grandparents, Grace (Lauren Graham) and Patrick Landry (Bradley Whitfield), who want nothing to do with Kenna as her mistake cost the life of their son and her boyfriend Scotty (Rudy Pankow). As Kenna works on rebuilding her life, she forges a connection with Scotty’s best friend Ledger (Tyriq Withers) who is close to Diem and the Landry’s. The pair forge a deeper relationship but the secret romance could lead to heartbreak for the both of them or it could lead to a second chance for Kenna.
The film weaves the romance elements spectacularly well. The slow burn romance between Kenna and Ledger, the enemies to lovers trope, is very well written and the drama is heightened by knowing how adamantly the Landry’s are against giving Kenna a chance. As the film progresses, the flashbacks to Kenna’s relationship with Scotty, Ledger’s memories of his friend and ultimately the mistake that cost Kenna everything, are well distributed, adding to the tension and the pacing of the movie. The judicious use of secondary characters like Kenna’s landlady, friends where she works and the other tenants of the apartment complex where she lives, add to the humor and lighten the more serious moments. It is a well paced and written film.
The drama between Ledger and Kenna is deftly handled. Ledger doesn’t know who Kenna is in the beginning as he never met her, having been away from town when she met Scotty. When he realizes, the tension between them explodes. That fiery drama between them is converted into compassion as he realizes that Kenna is more than he realizes and that initial anger changes into friendship. The slow tension is explored and when they finally realize the passion between them, it is done with tenderness and care. The chemistry between them is believable as is the relationship.
The acting is emotional and rich with nuance. Maika Monroe gives a powerful evocative performance as Kenna, full of hope but also pain over the loss of Scotty. Tyriq Withers gives a layered performance as Ledger, both of them portraying loss and grief for Scotty but also an undeniable tension between them. The relationship is portrayed as authentic and the friendship helps to build the romantic tension between the pair. I also found Lauren Graham quietly skilled in her performance and Bradley Whitfield expressive. Both are seasoned performers and it shows in the level of skill that they bring to their secondary roles in the film. 
If there was anything that detracts from the movie, it is that because it is a romantic drama, most of the film is predictable. From the beginning, you know that Ledger and Kenna are going to fall in love. But what helps that predictability are the memories shared of Scotty, the humorous scenes with the friends that surround Kenna and little touches like the small kitten she is given when she rents her apartment. It is the moments that bring her hope, like getting a job unexpectedly and Ledger seeing beyond her mistakes, to finally her being allowed a second chance that heighten this film above the normal romantic movie.
If you like films about love and second chances, about loss but also hope, I recommend this movie. Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers have undeniable chemistry and the characters forge a beautiful relationship despite the heartbreak of their loss. The acting of both are excellent, the slow burn romance will keep you electrified and the humorous moments will not only make you laugh but fall in love with the characters. It is a lovely, sweet film that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Rating: 4 out of 5 kittens
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