"Endless Love" is a remake of Franco Zeffirelli's 1981 teen love story starring Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt, itself made from Scott Spencer's 1979 novel, but viewers shouldn't be too hard on themselves if they assume it's the latest Nicholas Sparks adaptation. All of the obvious chestnuts typically found in romantic melodramas are on hand and accounted for, the screenplay by director Shana Feste (2010's "Country Strong") and co-writer Joshua Safran (TV's "Smash") finally overstuffing itself when less would have undoubtedly been more, and better. Where the film is able to excel beyond its triter elements is in Feste's sympathetic understanding of what it is like to be on the precipice of adulthood while falling in love for the first time. She does not look down upon her characters, but strives to understand and care about them. It's a glossier rendition of 1989's "Say Anything" and 2013's "The Spectacular Now," but the two leads and astute supporting players are too likable to dismiss.
See dustinputman.com for full review
