Reminders of Him Review: This Colleen Hoover Adaptation Is a Total Nothingburger

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Vanessa Caswill’s film version of Colleen Hoover’s Reminders of Him is a fairly straightforward adaptation. While other Hoover adaptations have suffered from casting issues, this one fares better. The story centers on Kenna (Maika Monroe), a woman recently released from prison who tries to reconnect with her daughter, Diem (Zoe Kosovic). As is typical for a Colleen Hoover story, romance blossoms—this time between Kenna and Ledger (Tyriq Withers), the best friend of her late boyfriend.

It’s funny, the very romance that’s drawing audiences to the movie is also its biggest weakness. While Monroe and Withers have decent chemistry, it doesn’t really spark. This is largely due to a script that doesn’t quite serve them well. The story tries to juggle Kenna’s desire to reconnect with her five-year-old daughter, born during her time in prison, and a new romance, but it feels stretched thin. The film would have been stronger focusing on the complex relationship between Kenna and her daughter, exploring how far Kenna would go to connect with her and the grandparents’ reservations about letting her into Diem’s life. That’s where the real emotional core of the story lies, but the movie unfortunately prioritizes the romantic elements above all else.

Reminders of Him Tells the Story of a Woman’s Redemption

It’s no surprise the movie is a love story, as the book focuses on Kenna’s relationships, starting with her first love. Years earlier, a car accident tragically took the life of Kenna’s boyfriend, Scotty. Kenna was convicted of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence, and she didn’t realize she was pregnant at the time. After Kenna gave birth, Scotty’s parents (played by and Bradley Whitford, known from The West Wing) raised their grandchild.

Kenna is starting over in her hometown, trying to rebuild her life. Without a car or phone, she walks to her job at the grocery store, even in bad weather, all while surrounded by the beautiful Wyoming landscape. She’s living in a run-down apartment and finds friendship with her neighbor, Lady Diana (Monika Myers), and keeps in touch with Scotty by writing him letters. Meanwhile, Ledger is assisting Scotty’s parents with raising their child, Diem.

The film effectively shows Kenna’s pain and frustration with everything that’s happening. It’s not unexpected, as the actress often plays characters in difficult situations. During a courtroom scene, Ledger points out that Kenna didn’t seem sorry for her role in Scotty’s death, which shocks her – she insists she was devastated. While the film does show her heartbreak, as Ledger observes, it sometimes appears as though Kenna is reluctant to revisit painful memories. Her actions, like desperately running after Diem’s car just to catch a glimpse of her daughter, reveal her true feelings more powerfully than any words could.

Reminders of Him’s Leads Fail on the Romance Front

It’s hard not to find the whole situation a bit over the top. While Diem’s parents, Grace and Patrick, understandably want to protect her, Ledger’s behavior is excessive. His initial forceful actions – physically bringing Kenna into his house to keep her away from Diem – make it difficult to see him as a caring love interest. Everyone reacts as if Kenna is a dangerous criminal trying to kidnap their child, creating a ridiculously dramatic scene that’s almost comical.

If the effort to keep Kenna and Diem apart feels exaggerated, the connection between Kenna and Ledger is surprisingly simple and sweet. Neither Monroe nor Withers fully embody the depth their characters need. Withers shines when reflecting on past mistakes, whether concerning his friendship with Scotty or his time in the NFL. However, when it comes to his unrequited feelings for Kenna, his portrayal feels flat. Their romance feels forced and unnatural, as if they’re going through the motions rather than genuinely wanting to be together. Honestly, they don’t seem to enjoy each other’s romantic company very much at all.

The premise of Reminders of Him – falling for your late boyfriend’s best friend while getting to know the daughter you never knew – is certainly attention-grabbing. However, in a market saturated with similar stories and adaptations of Colleen Hoover’s work, it doesn’t feel particularly fresh. While not a bad movie, Reminders of Him isn’t groundbreaking, and it’s likely to blend into the many forgettable streaming releases.

Reminders of Him Is Nothing Harmful in the Romance Genre

The movie attempts a surprising twist hoping to jolt viewers out of boredom, but it’s unclear if the twist actually reveals a significant truth. A confusing and unsatisfying twist says a lot about a film’s weaknesses. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing—life isn’t always dramatic like in the movies. However, in a story where the romantic connection feels flat and the emotional moments don’t resonate, a bit more excitement might have helped.

While Reminders of Him has some genuinely sweet scenes – particularly when Kenna reconnects with people and builds friendships – these moments highlight a bigger problem: the film feels like it belongs in the wrong genre. It had the potential to be a powerful story about a woman rebuilding her life after prison and proving herself as a mother, with the support of a welcoming community. Instead, it devolves into a predictable and frankly, underwhelming romance centered around her sleeping with her late boyfriend’s best friend. It’s a disappointing turn that undermines what could have been a truly inspiring story.

Unlike It Ends With Us, Reminders of Him hasn’t faced much controversy, which has allowed it to be a relatively low-key film release. While ‘safe’ might not always be exciting, it seems to be enough for adaptations of Colleen Hoover’s books, and we can expect to see many more like it in the future.

Reminders of Him premieres in theaters on March 13.

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2026-03-11 20:44