The Book of Love

PG-13

Released Jan 13, 2017

1 hr. 44 min.

Comedy

Drama

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List

8%

12 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Henry (Jason Sudeikis) is a widowed architect who strikes up a friendship with Millie (Maisie Williams), an independent but troubled teen. Hoping to find her long-lost father, Millie asks Henry to build her a raft that can sail across the ocean. After agreeing to do so, the unlikely duo embark on an incredible adventure that deepens their bond and lifts their spirits.

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Audience Member

We thoroughly enjoyed this quirky movie! It was interesting to watch the awkward collision of two highly unlikely compatible characters come together. Great date night moving!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

After the accidental death of his free-spirited pregnant wife, Penny (Jessica Biel), reserved architect Henry (Jason Sudeikis) struggles to find meaning in his life and in the work that once consumed him. As he continues to work on the house he and Penny were building together, Henry is drawn to a mysterious young runaway named Millie (Maisie Williams) whom Penny had asked Henry to help. Though Millie mistrusts Henry at first, the two build a tentative friendship as she reveals her ambition to build a raft to go find her father who was lost at sea. Taking on the father role he was meant to have, Henry neglects his job and other responsibilities to help Millie on her quest. As they work together, he comes to understand that she can help him to heal as much as he can help her... This drama comedy doesn´t work first of all due to the fact that Jason Sudeikis has the main role. I like him, but he can´t pull off this sort of drama I am afraid to say. And I do also like Jessica Biel, but she has such a small part in the film that she can´t really add proper weight to the film. I think the characters are also very stereotypical and a bit wooden. Second of all the script has plenty of problems both in the storyline and in the dialogue. And to be honest, the main idea of building a raft to restart your life after a tragedy and be open for what comes next becomes a bit silly and not really believable. Trivia: The film had its world premiere under its original title "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 14, 2016.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I think it was very good it made me happy and sad at the same time

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I am entirely unsure why this was shunned by critics but I enjoyed it immensely. I smiled, I cried. I would watch it again.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Don't listen to the "critics". They don't know anything. This is a great feel good movie. Funny, heartbreaking inspiring. Loved it!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Really liked it. As much as I like sci-fi and super heroes, it was nice to watch something deep and real for a change. If you don’t think this is deep, then you haven’t been through anything yet. What a blessing for you, cause going through stuff sucks and it never stops hurting. However, like the characters in the movie, you learn to keep going.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/07/19

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Bill Purple

Director

Jason Sudeikis

Henry Herschel

Maisie Williams

Millie

Jessica Biel

Penny Herschel

Orlando Jones

Cornelius "Dumbass" Thibadeaux

Paul Reiser

Wendell

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The Book of Love: Trailer 1

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Christy Lemire

RogerEbert.com

Filled with contrivances, false emotions and even flimsier accents, it strains mightily to tug at our heartstrings while also enticing us with whimsy, and fails on both fronts.

Rated: 1/4

Jan 13, 2017

Full Review

Katie Walsh

Los Angeles Times

Fo a film thats trying very hard to make you feel, it sure leaves you cold.

Jan 13, 2017

Full Review

Chris Nashawaty

Entertainment Weekly

Cloyingly sentimental and annoyingly whimsical, director Bill Purple's The Book of Love is one of those movies that all-too-neatly tries to turn grief into personal growth at the audience's expense.

Rated: C

Jan 13, 2017

Full Review

Robert Kojder

Flickering Myth

On top of everything else, The Book of Love is an utter bore. No one will care whether Henry gets over the emotional loss of losing his wife or not, or if Millie gets to explore the sea

Rated: 1/5

Dec 5, 2017

Full Review

Jim Schembri

3AW

Finely prepared mush with some nice riffs about acceptance and moving on that unspools quite pleasantly in the home entertainment environment...a modest, well-made, small-scale film with a simple message.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 11, 2017

Full Review

S. Jhoanna Robledo

Common Sense Media

Uneven drama about two lost souls has swearing, drug use.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 7, 2017

Full Review

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Synopsis

Henry (Jason Sudeikis) is a widowed architect who strikes up a friendship with Millie (Maisie Williams), an independent but troubled teen. Hoping to find her long-lost father, Millie asks Henry to build her a raft that can sail across the ocean. After agreeing to do so, the unlikely duo embark on an incredible adventure that deepens their bond and lifts their spirits.

Director: Bill Purple
Executive Producer: Ross M. Dinerstein, Bill Purple, Gregory P. Shockro, Jason Sudeikis, Rick Yorn, Kevin Connolly, Joey Carey, Stefan Nowicki
Screenwriter: Robbie Pickering, Bill Purple
Distributor: Freestyle Releasing, Electric Entertainment
Production Co: Electric Entertainment, Campfire, Iron Ocean Films
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Content|Language|Drug Material)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 13, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2017
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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