THE LAKE HOUSE
Director: Alejandro Agresti
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Dylan Walsh
Prelude: The film is based on a Korean romance called Il Mare, which introduced Korean eye-candy Jun Ji-hyun to local audiences five years ago. Jun, who also stars in the popular My Sassy Girl, has become one of Korea's most sought-after actresses.
The story: A worn-out physician called Kate (Bullock) moves out of her spacious and artfully designed house over a lake and leaves a note for the next tenant. That would be Alex (Reeves), a soulful real-estate developer, who turns out to be the previous tenant. They communicate via the space-time continuum that is the mailbox and fall deeply in love.
The stars: Reeves and Bullock became a classic screen couple 12 years ago in action flick Speed. Both have independently starred in many mediocre movies (with the exception of the Matrix trilogy and Miss Congeniality) that lost them many fans. Nevertheless, they belong to that rare breed of Hollywood star who can make a poorly directed or badly-written movie watchable.
Why bother: There are few romances this summer and The Lake House is the kind of movie sentimental souls will adore.