Unfortunately, Chaplin's brilliance, Alda's funny crustiness, and Eastwood's vulnerability aren't enough to keep this film afloat.

The Longest Ride is a weak sauce addition to the Sparks empire, a little better than last year's The Best of Me, but miles below uber-Sparks work The Notebook.

Like all of Sparks's stories it's corny as hell, but there's an unabashed, old-fashioned charm that gradually warms the cockles and moistens the eye.

After an hour, I was like, "no, I'm over it."