It's an appealing premise: a lonely young woman finds a wonderfully romantic message in a bottle. She is able to track down where the message came from and sets out to encounter its author, departing with a mind full of unspoken dreams.
Robin Wright is Theresa Osborne, a single mother and under-achieving researcher at a Chicago newspaper. She's the finder of the bottle. Kevin Costner, who also co-produced, plays Garret Blake, a widower who has been unable to move through his grief. Paul Newman plays Garret's father.
Message in a Bottle is a movie filled with questions. Who wrote the message? Why? What will Theresa do about it? And many more. The problem is that most of the answers are either entirely predictable or not especially compelling. For example, it takes a long time for us to find out how Garett's wife died, and when we do, it's a non-issue. Same thing with Garret's pointless feud with his dead wife's family.
Much of the conflict in Message in a Bottle doesn't make sense. Secrets are kept that never really would be. For every moment that rings true, there's another one that doesn't.
All that being said, this film still has a lot going for it. The basic love story is compelling, even if its fringes are blotched with faulty detail. Robin Wright's performance is excellent. Her range of emotion is outstanding, and even when the plot dictates an unlikely choice, Wright gives Theresa enough credibility for us to believe she would do these things. Newman seems to be having a lot of fun as the crusty old man with a heart of gold. We've seen this played many times before, but it is interesting to see Newman transforming himself into a new persona. Costner is likeable but as bland as ever. This really doesn't harm the film, as Garett is supposed to be a pretty introverted fellow anyway.
The cinematography is strong, with beautiful scenes of ocean and shoreline helping set the mood. The film's conclusion, although melodramatic, offers welcome respite from the usual Hollywood ending.
If you're a sucker for romantic films, then you'll likely enjoy this one. Otherwise, like so many of Kevin Costner's films, Message in a Bottle is a missed opportunity. Its strengths, especially Wright's performance, are held back by heavy-handed and predictable melodrama, implausible character choices and weak sub-plots.
