As unimaginative as the title of this romantic drama is, FOREVER MY GIRL is the kind of film critics hate to see but love to write about.  As in the words of Lucille Ball who played Bob Hope’s critic’s wife in the movie CRITIC’S CHOICE: “If come back excited, the play you have seen must have been terrible and you have plenty to write about, but if return bored and disappointed, the play must have been excellent.”

To keep from getting bored, one might want to keep score on sentimental or corny points to see whether FOREVER MY GIRL is too corny or too sentential.  Example (corny): Liam’s manager’s advice: “It is not what you do that matters.  It is what you do after that matters.”  Example (sentimental): Liam explains to his daughter why he left while unbeknown to him, his father and ex are both listening.

When country music superstar Liam Page (Alex Roe) returns to his hometown, he runs into Josie (Jessica Rothe), the bride he left at the altar, choosing fame and fortune instead.  Their relationship was left unresolved as he never got over her or forgot his Southern roots in the small community where he was born and raised.  While there for the funeral of his high school best friend, he is faced with the consequences of all that he left behind.

Dialogue and direction are awful, acting is just as bad and the film does not know where to go once the protagonist, Liam returns home.  He has to win back his ex, Josie and the daughter he just discovered he had.  And then what?

When Liam learns he has had a daughter, Billy (Abby Ryder Fortson), he has to decide what to do next.  What transpires in the plot will not be revealed so as not to spoil your enjoyment of the film (this review’s bigger joke), but it does not take a genius to guess the film’s predictable outcome.

Alex Roe was likely chosen for his role for his dreamy good looks while Abby Ryder Fortson for the role of his daughter for her irreresistable charm.  This charm unfortunately turns really annoying after a while.  Forston has to resort to screaming to be charming and this tactic does not work!

Most of the songs are composed and performed by Brett Boyett.  The songs are bearable but nothing too memorable.  The lyrics are written to tell the audience how they should feel and where the plot is at.  The last song is called “Finally Home” so you get the idea,

There is one segment where Liam performs in London.  This must make the funniest and most ridiculous part of the movie.  There is the title “London” appearing at the bottom left of the screen followed by the night skyline of the city.  This is followed by a song performed by Liam that ends in a small enclosed hall with him leaving London after the performance.  

FOREVER MY GIRL is based on the novel by Heidi McLaughlin.  (This was based on a novel?)   If your girl insists that you watch this film with her, leave town and never return!

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv6ktjg_RPk