Book of Love (1990) is a film that never really got much of an audience, but that's not to say it didn't deserve one. It tells the story of John Twiller, who has just recieved a message from a high school girlfriend. He doesn't recollect her at first, so he opens his high school yearbook and reminisces about 'the good days'. What follows are a series of flashbacks to his adventures growing up in the 1950s. School, friends, girls, and growing up are the key elements here.

Twiller is a bit of a social outcast, since his family has just moved to a new neighborhood. Like many of us growing up, he has trouble jumping into new environments, but couldn't hide it very well. Although he eventually becomes friends with a few other young boys, he still remains unlucky with the ladies. In particular, one of the more popular ladies at school catches his eye, but she seems way out of reach for someone like him.

While the concepts are hardly new, there are a few things that keep Book of Love slightly above water. Sure, the story is predictable, the dialogue is occasionaly embarrasing, and the overall story format leaves much to be desired; but there's still an inherent spark to the movie that allows some of these flaws to be overlooked. Additionally, the performances are uniformly strong: in fact, this could even be considered close to Stand By Me in the 'young kids acting department', and the strength of the cast is enough to carry the somewhat generic story. Additionally, I appreciate that the 'candy-coated bubble' of the 1950s has been ignored, as these kids are shown as more realistic characters...not of the typical 'gee-whiz' variety. For these reasons, Book of Love may be a pleasant trip down memory lane.

Still, if it's challenging cinema you're after, look elsewhere.

This movie was the first and only directorial effort by Robert Shaye, who some of you might know as the Co-CEO and Co-Chairman of New Line Entertainment. Obviously, he has enough pull to rekindle the flame of Book of Love on DVD, and fans of the movie will be happy to know that this release presents the film in its best possible light. Although there have been far better efforts in the 'coming-of-age' genre, there were just enough bright spots in the movie to deserve a bit of attention for a new generation. Let's see how the DVD stacks up:

Book of Love is given a relatively pleasing new transfer from New Line Entertainment. While it's nothing that'll knock your socks off, it really breathes new life into this 1990 film. Colors are bold and clean, and the 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer is largely free from dirt and other problems. Even the dark scenes hold up nicely, making this a good visual effort overall.

While Book of Love is hardly a groundbreaking or original film, it's just pleasing enough to pass the time on a weekend. However, there wasn't much beyond nostalgia that really set this movie apart from the pack, so it's really hard to recommend it as anything but a 'mildly pleasant diversion'. The DVD from New Line is also a decent enough effort, especially since the film has been largely overlooked in the past. Here's the bottom line: if you're a fan of the film, this release will really be a treat. Everyone else should Rent It first.