Vanessa Casswill’s Reminders of Him is another Colleen Hoover adaptation engineered squarely for the romance crowd, and it knows exactly what it is. And sure, it’s contrived – but the heartfelt performances and polished production ultimately make it work. And yes, it’s a film that desperately wants to make you cry. Whether it succeeds will largely depend on how deeply you connect with the central story and the themes it’s exploring. But even with its predictability - and make no mistake, you can probably map out the ending within the first ten minutes - the journey itself remains surprisingly engaging. A major reason for that is the cast, which does a lot of heavy lifting. Maika Monroe brings just the right blend of spunk, vulnerability, and emotional openness to Kenna, allowing her to sidestep the more tired clichés that often come with this kind of role. She grounds the film whenever it starts drifting into melodrama. Tyriq Withers, meanwhile, is equally compelling. His performance feels sturdy and heartfelt, creating a character who is easy to invest in and easy to root for. Together, Monroe and Withers have the kind of chemistry that can elevate material that’s otherwise straightforward. Supporting turns from Lauren Graham and Bradley Whitford add a layer of seasoned credibility. Their presence brings a welcome maturity to the film. Still, not everything lands. Several attempts at humor feel forced, and a handful of emotional beats veer into territory that reads more awkward than affecting. The heart is there, but the execution can be clumsy. What can’t be denied, though, is how polished the production is. The cinematography is warm, crisp, and sometimes even striking. But, in the end, it’s the performances that carry the film across the finish line. If nothing else, Reminders of Him stands as a, well, reminder, of the power of smart casting.