We found this film to be quite hopeless. The story makes little sense, nor are the characters believable. It centres around the story of a woman who is rejecting her husband's approaches to rebuild a marriage. She then flirts with an old man whilst supposedly looking after her friend's guest house, and ends up finding the way to wonderful romance is to neglect your children and write long passionate letters to the man of her dreams who is hiding from her at a roughly drawn hospital in Ecuador. It is hard to believe throughout that the film isn't meant to be tongue in cheek, but the sad truth is that it isn't.
I liked this film a lot, in spite of Richard Gere's bizarre hair style it was nevertheless an excellent movie. It isn't a big plot or particularly stylish though the photography is great and the views of Rodanthe are pretty amazing, makes one want to visit it. I'll admit that the film made me cry at the end and so it has quite an emotional twist which anyone could relate too. I am a sucker for romantic films and this does the whole romance thing very well without being over the top. Overall if you like romantic comedies then watch this one but be prepared for a few tears at the end.