The Lake House (2006) - DVD Review

Have you been searching for a romantic story that shows how an extremely self reliant woman and a self-made independent man can fall deeply in love? Even if they are really out of sync with each another? If so, then the film "Lake House" is one that you will love to watch. Set in northern Illinois on the Lake Michigan shore, the setting makes a beautiful place for two people to figure out their isolated lives and how to deal with their frustrating jobs.

Starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, this touching drama is actually based on a story retold from a Korean movie titled "Siworae". The film is skillfully directed by Alejandro Atresti as it reveals a mystery centered around a mailbox in front of a house on Lake Michigan that somehow is able to bridge time between the two strangers.

Several years after she has moved away from her lakeside house, a loveless and lonely physician played by Bullock, begins to answer letters to a frustrated architect, played by Reeves, who currently lives in the same lakeside home, only two years into the future. After exchanging a long line of letters, both eventually learn that they are living in different times.

Through numerous life alternating events, the two devoted pen pals are only able to exchange letters with each other by writing letters to each other and putting them into the magical mailbox. Their happiness, anger, laughter, tragedies, and hopes are shared in their letters, which over time, turn them into close friends. As time goes on, they have lovers come and go, one has a father who dies, and even many birthdays pass. As the film progresses, life keeps throwing twists and turns at them, making their best layed plans to meet each other in person always slip just beyond their reach.

Sandra Bullock plays the role of a hospital doctor, with long hours whose only roomate is a cat to play chess with. She plays her role brilliantly, showing a relentless caring nature and a very easy going humor. The film covers the time in her life from a period in college, through her having a relationship with another man other than Reeves, to the point where her career become not only hectic, but extremely lonely.

Keanu Reeves brings his own brand of finesse by playing a very talented architect who endures the disapproval of his famous architect elderly father. In the film, Reeves also has a brother which dreams of opening a business with him. However, their father has always intervened to prevent them from forming their own business. In the middle of all this, Reeves displays his role's great desire to have someone to love that will share his creative dreams and passion for life.

In the beginning of the film, neither roles played by Reeves and Bullock like each other. But as they share their letters in the magic mailbox, they eventually get more and more wrapped up in each other's life and slowly develop a deep, lasting love the only grows stronger as the years pass by.

The Lake House was released in 2006 and is rated PG for both some strong language and some disturbing images.

Tom Straub is a successful author and webmaster of the DVD Reviews website featuring online reviews of all your favorites.