Peggy Bowes was given the chance to write a review for “The Last Song,” the latest movie based on a screenplay and novel by Nicholas Sparks, for the Web site Catholic Exchange. Her publisher for “Rosary Workout,” a fitness-based book built around praying the Rosary during exercise routines, was supposed to make the trip but was unable to do so and asked Peggy to step in.
In order to write the review before the movie’s release last night, Peggy had to travel to a special screening in Nashville, Tenn. For the trip to Nashville, she decided to take along her 11-year-old daughter Rebecca for a little mother-daughter bonding.
“I thought it was really fun. We went to our favorite restaurant and we got to go swimming early. The hotel was really nice,” said Rebecca of the trip. “It was really cool to see the movie before anyone else did.”
For the screening itself, Peggy and Rebecca were two of only four people in the theater. They used the opportunity to not only screen a film early but to relate what they saw in the film to life and issues Rebecca may face as she enters middle and high school. Both mother and daughter enjoyed the film and agreed that the cast portrayed their roles well.
The story follows Ronnie, a teen played by Miley Cyrus, for a summer in which she is sent, along with her younger brother, to spend time with her father whom she has not spoken to since her parents’ divorce. It is directed by Julie Anne Robinson with a cast that includes Cyrus, Greg Kinnear, Bobby Coleman, Liam Hemsworth and Kelly Preston.
“I thought it was really good. I think maybe kids 12 and older will enjoy it more because it’s a more mature movie, but I really enjoyed it. Miley Cyrus played her role really well,” said Rebecca.
“It’s not a Hannah Montana movie,” said Peggy. “It’s more a coming of age type movie. It deals with hope and forgiveness and family love. It’s also about faith in yourself and in the people you love. They do a really good job of having a subtle Christian theme.”
Because Peggy was able to take her daughter with her to the screening, she was able to view the film and write the review from a parent’s perspective. It also helped her to come up with questions when she traveled to Hollywood for a press junket for the film even though Rebecca did not get to tag along on that adventure. She was in on the interview panel for the actors and the director and was able to do a one-on-one interview with Sparks, who lives in North Carolina.
“I asked Nicholas Sparks what can we do as parents to help our girls raise their self-esteem,” said Peggy of how watching the film with her daughter influenced her questions.
Ronnie is a self-confident character while another girl, Blaze, has very low self-esteem. According to her, Sparks is not really into building self-esteem. He tries to focus more on building self-confidence because that has to be earned.
“It has to be hard sometimes,” said Peggy of the concept of building self-confidence. “You have to make your kids really work for something.”
The two hope to take more mother-daughter road trips in the future because of the bonding they were able to do. However, an opportunity such as this one may not present itself for a while and they were sure to soak it in while it lasted.
“We did a lot of American Girl quizzes. We walked and we did some praying. We definitely kept busy,” said Rebecca.
“It was really special that it was just the two of us. I hope to do a lot of mother-daughter trips in the future,” said Peggy.
To read Peggy’s review of the film and interview with Sparks, visit catholicexchange.com. To learn more about her other work, “Rosary Workout,” visit her Web site at www.rosaryworkout.com.
Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.
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