_**Love is the most important thing if you’re going to make it**_

A struggling mother and son from the Midwest (Emily Procter & Lucky Blue Smith) make their way to a small town in Utah where they find a place to stay. She finds work and he goes to school, hoping to graduate. Their dream is to reach the ocean and there are great difficulties, but love paves the way. Shawn Stevens plays a friendly mechanic and Christie Burke his shy daughter. Landon Henneman is on hand as a kick-axx teacher while Austin R. Grant appears as the bully.

“Love Everlasting” (2016) is an Indie drama/romance focusing on the high school years (written & directed by Rob Diamond). Some critics deride it as Nicholas Sparks-type movie filled with clichés, but it works well for what it is and the micro-budget is hardly noticeable (except for a couple brief bits that could’ve been written/acted better, but that takes time and time is money).

For the film to work it needs the right actors in the six key roles and it delivers. All of them are thoroughly convincing with Lucky Blue Smith shining in the starring role at only 17 years-old during shooting. He has the charisma of Brando, but the looks of a tall, skinny David Bowie. Meanwhile modest Christie Burke is precious as the scarred girl and Emily Procter is a highlight in all-around beauty at 47 during filming.

Critics complain about the supposed predictableness, but there are several unpredictable things that occur. For instance, I thought for sure the oak tree sequence was going to be ruined by a dramatic cliché, but it dares to stick to its guns.

The reason I’m giving “Love Everlasting” a fairly high rating is because it has heart (as opposed to crudity or eye-rolling “woke”-ness), including several gems that reflect real life and how to make it, whatever your purpose. The high school years are particularly well illustrated. We’ve all experienced the bullies, the peer-pressure, the shallow cruelties, the genuinely helpful teacher, the personal outside sanctuary, the “fort,” the ‘in’ kids, the outcasts, the nerds and the abusive father figures. Most of all, the movie emphasizes that any great challenge can be overcome if you have the warmth of love and respect, which provide inner-value and hope to persevere.

While it lacks the budget of other formidable high school flicks like “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (1982), “Footloose” (1984), “Clueless” (1995) and “The Rage: Carrie 2” (1999), it’s on their level in spirit. Yes, I realize some of those movies throw in comedy, quirkiness and horror, but they’re all basically high school stories that effectively capture those challenging years in all their glory and shame. “Love Everlasting” is closer to the inspirational “Cutback” (2010), albeit with a bigger budget, not to mention it’s not “faith-based” like “Cutback,” but it is inspirational in its own understated way. Read Proverbs 15:17 to get my drift.

The film runs 1 hour, 33 minutes, and was primarily shot in Utah, with a portion done on the coast of Southern Cal.

GRADE: A-/B+