Review Roundup: Critics Weigh In On MIDNIGHT SUN

Midnight Sun is a romantic tearjerker about 17-year-old Katie Price (Bella Thorne), sheltered at home since childhood with a rare genetic condition, a life-threatening sensitivity to sunlight. Having only her father Jack (Rob Riggle) for company, Katie's world opens up after dark when she ventures outside to play her guitar.

One night, her dreams come true when she's noticed and asked out by her longtime crush Charlie (Patrick Schwarzenegger), whom she's secretly watched from her bedroom window for years. As they embark on nightly summer excursions, Katie's risk to sunlight grows and she's presented with the gut-wrenching dilemma of whether she can live a normal life with her newfound soul mate.

MIDNIGHT SUN hits theaters tomorrow. See what the critics had to say so far:

Katie Walsh, Greensboro News & Record: "The film has a ridiculous storyline with a climax that makes you say "huh?," but the biggest problem with "Midnight Sun" is Thorne has more chemistry with Riggle, as her dad, than she does with Schwarzenegger. He's got generic good looks: sandy side-swept hair, toothy grin, tall, muscled, frame, but not an ounce of charisma animates those eyes. Next to him, Thorne radiates. But she often makes the very strange choice to deliver a broad comedic performance, making Katie bumbling and socially awkward (but gorgeous, of course). It's the kind of over-the-top style native to the Disney sitcoms where she got her start, but feels out of place in this syrupy, inspirational melodrama. It tanks across from Schwarzenegger, who is so stoic and wooden he seems to be carved from lumber. In these slapsticky moments, you can tell she's working overtime to spark something, but nothing catches fire in this "Midnight Sun.""

Ed Symkus, Ashland Daily Tidings: "In the script's ongoing attempt to include a record number of romantic movie clichés while shamelessly manipulating audiences, dad visits Katie's doctor and their ensuing chat clues us in on the severity of her condition; Morgan sets up a "surprise date" between Katie and Charlie; Charlie's tells Katie a secret about how a freak accident affected his life; Katie doesn't tell Charlie about her secret; and Charlie meets Katie's overprotective dad, whose first question to him is, "Have you ever been arrested?" That's probably supposed to be funny, but either Riggle's delivery is off or director Scott Speer didn't catch that the line felt forced. I'd put more blame on the director, since the three kids with major roles as well as Riggle overdo it throughout the film. In general, their acting needs some tempering."

Image courtesy of Midnight Sun Official Facebook Page

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