The Lake House

Romantic fantasies about lovers supernaturally separated by time and/or space have a long pedigree onscreen, but they require finesse and narrative rigor to succeed, both of which The Lake House lacks, directed as it is by Alejandro Agresti in a lugubrious, swooning style that merely accentuates the absurdities. Abandoning her beloved suburban glass house on the northern coast of Lake Michigan when she takes a job in Chicago, Dr. Kate Forster (Sandra Bullock) leaves a note for incoming occupant Alex (Keanu Reeves), a nice-guy condo builder whose estranged renowned architect father actually built the place. Their subsequent correspondence, conducted via a magical mailbox, not only grows more personal and passionate over time, but reveals that he's living his life exactly two years earlier than hers. How could such a thing be happening? And will it prevent them from meeting? Granted, this is not exactly a brilliant concept, but if treated with delicacy and taste, it could have been the foundation of a genuinely touching piece. Unfortunately, the episodic nature of the central love story, overabundance of subplots, and too many directorial affectations mar the pacing and undermine the emotional resonance. Unable to recapture the magnetism of their Speed pairing, Bullock and Reeves are so gloomy and sullen (especially her) that they cast a pall over the whole film. Not recommended. [Note: Available in either widescreen or full screen versions, DVD extras include five additional scenes plus outtakes (4 min. total) and trailers. Bottom line: a paltry extras package for an uneven romantic fantasy.] (F. Swietek)