THE LAST SONG

If your family can handle a tearjerker, The Last Song is worth your time. It is a fast-moving, well-crafted story about a rebellious teenager whose relationship with her estranged father slowly changes her heart. Its strongest themes are forgiveness, grace, love, and honor.

The movie also treats its characters as broken people who are still “in process.” That gives the family drama emotional weight, while the stained-glass project offers an inspiring picture of redemption. Still, the story includes serious themes about death, along with brief light foul language and references to drinking and marijuana use.

The practical answer is simple: older children and adults can take the trip, while parents should use discernment with younger children.

Rebellious teenager Ronnie and her younger brother, Jonah, spend the summer at their estranged father Steve’s beach house. Ronnie has stopped playing classical piano since her parents’ separation, and she and Steve argue constantly.

As Jonah bonds with their father over a stained-glass window for a burned-down local church, Ronnie meets Will and begins a romance that softens her. But secrets in both families soon complicate the summer.

Four stars means this is a strongly made, emotionally effective movie. The story moves at a fast pace, with twists and turns that make it compelling. Its many emotions are central to its appeal, and the film delivers a soul-stirring experience that can leave viewers deeply moved.

Miley Cyrus gives an engaging performance as Ronnie in her first “grown-up” movie. Bobby Coleman nearly steals the film through Jonah’s innocence and heartache as he tries to finish the stained-glass window without his father’s help.

The film centers on forgiveness and grace. Ronnie learns that she, her family, and her friends are broken people who are still “in process.” Love and honor are held in high esteem, even though the story does not overtly mention faith in God.

The movie also offers an expressed hope of an afterlife. Its stained-glass window provides an inspiring redemptive metaphor, connecting the family’s work with the burned-down church. The story’s moral vision is therefore sympathetic to forgiveness, acceptance of other people’s faults, love, and honor, while leaving faith in God unstated.

The film’s central longing is for broken relationships to be restored. Scripture calls believers to the same posture: “forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Colossians 3:13).

The Last Song is a moving, well-crafted family drama about forgiveness, grace, and hearts changed through love. Its serious themes and brief light language call for discernment with younger children, but older children and adults may find it deeply affecting. WORTH THE TRIP — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.