Before I went to see the film “The Last Song,” based off the book by Nicholas Sparks of the same title, I asked my friends what they expected from the movie. My Twilight-loving friend was very much looking forward to seeing it because of the great story line, while some of my other friends scorned the idea of Miley Cyrus being able to star in a decent drama movie. They all had good insight into how the movie would be.

I have not read the book, but I heard it was much different from the film. The movie was about a rebellious teen named Ronnie, played by Cyrus, who reluctantly goes, with her younger brother, to visit the father who abandoned her at age 5. She is forced to spend the summer there and soon meets new people.

One local boy, Will, played by Australian actor Liam Hemsworth (who is also Cyrus’ real-life boyfriend), quickly becomes her love interest. But then reality strikes Ronnie when she learns about her father’s sickness and she has to make the most out of the remaining time she has left with him.

I admit I had low expectations for “The Last Song,” and Cyrus’ acting in particular, but in many ways I was pleasantly surprised. The main lesson behind the story was to appreciate and be there for those you love while they are still in your life, but the theme doesn’t appear in the story until the very end of the movie. The entire beginning was spent showing how her life was and Ronnie’s developing relationship with Will.

Cyrus’ acting was not horrendous at all, as some predicted it to be. It wasn’t fantastic either. Ronnie’s behavior at the beginning of the film, though attempting to be rebellious, mostly just came across as obnoxious and bratty, and she was rude and needy with her boyfriend throughout the movie. Actually, her character was hardly likable at all. Also, Cyrus’ bad posture during the movie was a constant distraction to me, especially while having dinner with her boyfriend’s parents.

The acting that shined the most was that of Ronnie’s little brother, played by Bobby Coleman.His reaction to the news of his father’s illness was the most passionate and real.

“The Last Song” was a chick flick about family, first loves, and growing up. It is also truly sad and touching. Almost everyone in the theater was crying at the end of the film, and I even heard people sobbing and blowing their noses.

This is a good movie for most girls, especially those who are Miley Cyrus fans, but even those who aren’t.

Aran Kirschenmann, 13, is a contributing writer for the Bellevue Reporter and an eighth grader at The International School in Bellevue.