“Reminders of Him,” the film, is based on the novel written by Colleen Hoover. 

Recently, several of Hoover’s books have been turned into films, including “It Ends with Us” and “Regretting You.”

Because of the popularity of her novels, many fans had high expectations for “Reminders of Him.” Unfortunately, the movie did not fully meet those expectations.

The story follows Kenna (Maika Monroe), who returns to her hometown after serving time in prison for the vehicular death of her boyfriend, Scotty (Rudy Pankow). 

After coming back to town, Kenna visits a place that used to be special to her and Scotty. However, the location has changed and is now a bar owned by Ledger (Tyriq Withers). 

This is where Kenna and Ledger meet for the first time. 

At first, it is clear that Ledger finds Kenna attractive, but he does not express his feelings.

As the story continues, both characters eventually realize who the other person is and why their connection is complicated. 

Ledger was Scotty’s best friend, and although he and Kenna never met during Kenna and Scotty’s relationship, they still have something very big in common, Scotty. 

This revelation creates tension between them because Ledger is close to Scotty’s parents.

However, before realizing who Kenna was, he had already begun to see that she was not as bad as everyone in town made her seem.

One of the biggest issues with the movie is the lack of chemistry between Kenna and Ledger. Their interactions often feel awkward and forced rather than natural. 

In romantic films, audiences usually expect a “slow burn” relationship, where two characters gradually develop feelings for each other over time.

A slow burn occurs when two characters may not show obvious chemistry at first, but as the story progresses their connection grows stronger and more believable. 

In “Reminders of Him,” this type of development is missing.

When Ledger eventually kisses Kenna, the moment feels sudden and unexpected.

Instead of feeling like a meaningful turning point, the moment feels awkward.

Because the movie does not take the time to build emotional tension between them, the relationship seems rushed. 

The pacing of the film also contributes to this problem.

Many important moments between Kenna and Ledger are either shortened or skipped entirely. In the book, their relationship develops slowly and includes several emotional scenes that help readers understand why the characters fall in love. 

These moments create stronger chemistry and make their relationship feel more genuine. 

By leaving many of these scenes out, the movie loses some of the emotional depth that made the book so powerful.

The ending of the movie also feels rushed. 

A longer ending could have helped provide closure for the characters and the audience.

Although the film does capture some of the main themes from the book, such as forgiveness and the power of love, it ultimately feels like a missed opportunity.

With stronger chemistry between the actors and a slower, more detailed storyline, “Reminders of Him” could have been a much more powerful and emotional adaptation of the novel.