Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1772 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-10-09
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 110 minutes

Synopsis
Directed by Alejandro Agresti (VALENTIN), THE LAKE HOUSE reunites Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves for the first time since 1994's smash hit SPEED in this love story that transcends the limitations of time. When Doctor Kate Forster (Bullock) moves from a unique glass lake house to Chicago, she leaves a note in the mailbox for the new tenant asking that they forward any stray mail and apologizing for some mild inconveniences at the house that were there when she arrived, including paw prints in the entryway. Architect Alex Wyler (Reeves) moves in and finds Kate's note in the mailbox, but is confused--he responds that there are no paw prints to be found, and as far as he knows, the house has been empty for quite some time. When a stray dog runs past him as he is working on the entryway and leaves the trail of paw prints that Kate mentioned, Alex realizes that they are living in different years. Nonplussed by this odd turn of events, Alex and Kate continue to correspond via notes and letters left in the lake house mailbox. Soon they are sharing their secrets, confiding in each other, and falling in love. The film follows each character in his/her current time, chronicling Alex's relationship with his brother (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and estranged father (Christopher Plummer), as well as Kate's relationship with on-again/off-again boyfriend, Morgan (Dylan Walsh). As in all great love stories, Kate and Alex will ultimately have to take a chance. Can he wait for her until they are together in time? Will they each make the choices that ultimately allow them to be together? Only time will tell. Based on the South Korean film IL MARE, this visually appealing film makes wonderful use of Chicago and its architecture. Bullock and Reeves are both solid and likeable in the lead roles, bringing to life the wistfulness that Kate and Alex feel.

Customer Reviews

Wow, this is SUCH a good film! Romantic, unpredictable...
Loved it, loved it, loved it! It is currently on sale very cheaply, but this is a keeper! Guaranteed to take your mind off your current worries! Keanu and Sandra have fantastic on-screen chemistry - you really, really want them to get together.... but someone is killed in a road accident.... there's a very cute dog, too!! The time lapse thing is weird at first, but your get into it very quickly, and are constantly willing Sandra NOT to get stuck with the boring lawyer guy!!! Hankies at the ready, girls.....

Watch this *before* The Notebook
If you don't waste energy on timeline pedantry, The Lakehouse is a wonderful film. It's gentle and heart-warming and completely lovely... but I watched it expecting it to have the same emotional impact as The Notebook and it was miles off. It's horribly unfair to compare movies in this way, but it's hard not to in this case because the similarities are unavoidable.

Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves are marvellous leads, and you find yourself genuinely invested in their getting together; the acting throughout is great, and the cinematography is often beautiful. Some of the shots of Chicago are breath-taking, and the actual lakehouse surrounded by Autumn leaves is gorgeous. Really, I have no complaints *whatsoever* - I just wish I'd watched it prior to seeing The Notebook as my expectations wouldn't have been so high.

The only way to describe the difference is like this: If The Notebook is a piece of chocolate, The Lakehouse is a piece of diet chocolate. It's still really nice, and if you hadn't tasted the other one, you'd love it, but because you know how good it *can* be, it's left you feeling slightly unsatisfied. None of this may be very fair to The Lakehouse. 3 months ago, I would have given this delightful film 5 stars, but when it's next to its superior alternative, it just doesn't quite cut it.

That being said, it really is an enjoyable film - it's for anyone who's a romantic at heart. Snuggle on your sofa on a Sunday afternoon with a crochet blanket, a cup of tea and some chocolates (not diet), and you'll have a wonderful time.

Quirky and gentle
An odd little film I thought, but very gentle and moving; well worth the watch. I like most of the stuff that Sandra Bullock has starred in, and this is one of her best. We found the time thing quite difficult to get a handle on, and in the end you just have to suspend belief and go with the flow of the film. A lovely Sunday afternoon film, if you know what I mean.