Faced by much excitement and varying expectations, PG-13 rated “Reminders of Him,” directed by Vanessa Caswill, is a thoughtful and impactful film released by Universal Pictures on March 13.
This film is the third of Colleen Hoover’s novels to be adapted into a movie, after “It Ends With Us: (2024) and “Regretting You” (2025). The movie follows ex-prisoner Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe) as she travels back to her hometown of Laramie, Wyoming, to reunite with her daughter after being incarcerated for the accidental death of her daughter’s father, Scotty Landry (Rudy Pankow). She is joined by Scotty’s best friend Ledger Ward (Tyrique Withers), who helps Scotty’s parents raise her daughter. The story’s tragedy comes from Kenna’s struggle with the guilt of Scotty’s death and her inability to see her daughter, as Scotty’s parents have no desire to see Kenna.
With a runtime of almost two hours, the movie optimizes every moment, whether it be romantic, comedic or melancholic. The pacing elevates the story; plot points are not too drawn out or brief. Director Caswill ensures that the story flows smoothly, creating a compelling buildup to both Kenna and Ledger’s character growth.
This film is gracefully carried by its beautiful cinematography and strong actor performances. The film includes beautiful scenes of Wyoming and fully embraces the nature and vastness of its setting. Even at times when the script itself feels lackluster and redundant, Monroe and Withers are able to bring the film humanity and empathy. Their dialogue does not feel forced, nor interactions awkward.
The themes of love, loss and the journey to finding yourself after tragedy truly develop the story. It does not shy away from the complexities of grief and how one’s healing can be imperfect.
Although this movie is solid in most aspects, its soundtrack weakens the overall quality. Songs from the movie soundtrack include Morgan Harper-Jones’ cover of “Yellow” by Coldplay, “Ordinary” by Alex Warren and “The Night We Met” by Lord Huron. Although the tracks themselves are not terrible, they all sound similar, making one feel like they are listening to the same song over and over. Most of the songs on the soundtrack are overused and lack individuality, which inhibits the movie’s emotions.
Despite a lackluster soundtrack and a somewhat unbalanced script, “Reminders of Him” is a solid romance film. If you’re looking for a tragic but comedic love story to watch with friends or family, this movie is for you.
