Director: R. J. Cutler
Writer: Shauna Cross (adapted from the novel If I Stay by Gayle Forman)
Genre: Action, Fantasy Romance, and Supernatural
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Jamie Blackley, Mireille Enos, Joshua Leonard, Stacy Keach, Liana Liberato
Duration: 1 hour 47 mins approximately.
Language: English
Box Office: $78.9 million on an $11 million budget.
Sequel (Novel): Where She Went (2011).
Overview
If I Stay is heart-breaking story of supernaturical romance drama depicting an exquisite tale that has been adapted from a best selling novel by Gayle Forman. Mia Hall, a dope teenage cellist is severly injured in a fatal car crash, and while she drifts in to a coma, she must decide whether she wants to die or will she wake up and face reality which is ruthless. The film tracks the out-of-body experience she goes through after the tragic car accident.
The film is fused with deep emotional aspects alongside romance and music. It features a touching love story of Mia Hall, a gifted cellist with Adam Wilde (Jamie Blackley), a famous up and coming rock star. While some film critics gave it a melodramatic review, it attracted broader audiences – especially those who love young adult romantic novels.
Plot Summary:
At just 17, Mia Hall is an accomplished cellist with aspirations for Juilliard. Her classical ove set her apart from her boyfriend, Adam Blackley, a local band’s lead singer. Their intense and passionate relationship is characterized by mutual love, despite the differences in their music taste.
One winter morning, Mia had her life flip upside down when she and her family met with a serious car accident. Upon awaking, she realizes that she is in a coma, stuck between life and death. She slowly grasps that during the accident, her parents died on impact and her younger brother, Teddy, is critically injured, resulting in shockingly dire consequences.
Over the next day, all the best and worst moments of her life flash before her eyes.
Her loving family, which includes her mother, Mireille Enos, and father, Joshua Leonard, who shifted from being a devoted punk rock fanatic to the perfect father for his daughter.
Her relationship with Adam, who is her first love and whom she met while chasing her dreams.
Her drive towards the cello, her long-term goal of attending Juilliard, which she used to appreciate but now is just a tiny stumbling block.
While Mia’s body fights to survive, she becomes aware that the option to die or live is her distinct decision. She feels ready to give up once she realizes that Teddy has died as well. But, Adam’s passionate cringe-worthy request of begging her to stay might be strong enough to bring her back to life.
As Mia opens her eyes, the movie ends with her looking into Adam’s eyes filled with tears which raises the question of what happens after from the audience.
Motifs & Meaning
- Existence, Non-existence, and Choosing
Mia’s ethereal purgatory can be viewed and interpreted as a commentary on how so many people depict life. It is a reminder that, as much as we face obstacles; we alone have the will to pursue a particular endeavor.
- Music as Self & Relationship
Mia’s music defines her and is intergral in building relationships with her family, Adam and her self.
Classical & Rock – In this, Mia struggles to find balance between her wishing for a well-ordered life (Juilliard) and love life with Adam (which is more volatile).
A Cello – Mia’s cello is a symbol to which she attaches herself and once she considers moving away from her music, she must also move away from her self.
- Emotion as a Reason To Stay \n\nAdam brings with him the pull of love and dreams that remain undone. Even though Mia wishes to take the family route and travel toward death, the love possessed in Adam is able to remind her that grief can co-exist. \n\n4. Life’s Frailty \n\nThe unexpected incident highlights how life is capable of changing within a split second, thus challenging Mia to rethink what is of actual importance. \n\nPerformances & Characters \n\nChloë Grace Moretz as Mia Hall: \n\nMoretz performs in a captivatingly low-key way, showing Mia’s struggle with emotions in a truly visceral depiction. Moretz does an excellent job conveying Mia’s passion toward music, the unhealthy level of sorrow she possesses, and her battle in the decision to live or die. \n\nJamie Blackley as Adam Wilde: \n\nBlackley plays the typical, sulky, and overly masculine musician beautifully. He has real chemistry with Moretz which allows for their relationship to be at the center of many of the film’s dramatic scenes. \n\nMireille Enos & Joshua Leonard as Mia’s Parents: \n\nEnos and Leonard are the real scene stealers because they always make their characters come off as vividly funny and warm supportive free-spirited parents. Their excellent performance makes the impact of their character’s tragic deaths stab so much deeper. \n\nStacy Keach as Grandpa: \n\nKeach emotional monologue directed toward Mia while she lies in bed, serves as one of the most emotionally devastating parts of the piece, while giving context to the rest of Mia’s family.
Critical Evaluation & Box Office
Rotten Tomatoes: 36% (Critics) / 65% (Audience Score)
Metacritic: 46 (Mixed to Negative Reviews)
Box Office: 78.9 million dollars worldwide (on an 11 million dollar budget)
Positive Reviews:
✔ Emotional and Heartfelt: One of the best tear-jerkers of the year, it pulls your heartstrings effortlessly.
✔ Exquisite Lead: Chlo\xeb Grace Moretz delivers a heartfelt performance as Mia which makes the film memorable.
✔ Gorgeous Music: A great blend of eclectic rock and classical cello reinforces the braided themes of the film.
Criticisms:
❌ Overly Melodramatic & Predictable: This movie was very cliché and too emotional for many critics.
❌ Pacing Problems: The emotional flashbacks drag the film’s emotional engagement at times.
❌ Superficial Romance: Mia and Adam’s love story is sweet, but like many other YA romances lack in depth (The Fault in Our Stars).
Notable Scenes And Most Emotional Moments
- Car Crash Scene
The car crash has sudden and eerie silence which is very unsettling. When Mia crashes, her body lays lifeless while her spirit gazes over it, which sets the supernatural essence of the film.
- Grandpa’s Heartfelt Speech
The part of the movie where Stacy Keach tells Mia that she can go if she wants is one of the most powerful moments in the film.
- Adam’s Song for Mia
In an attempt to convince her to stay, Adam sneaks into the hospital and plays one of his original songs. This further illustrates the depths of his love for her.
- The Final Decision – “Stay”
Audience members are left feeling gutted as Adam states, “If you stay, I’ll do anything you want,” as Mia wakes up.
Behind-The-Scenes & Production Notes
Chloë Grace Moretz Learned to Play Cello – In order to portray Mia properly, Moretz underwent seven months of training.
Gayle Forman Was Fine With The Casting – She commented that the adaptation was done well and approved of Moretz’s performance.
Filming Location: Vancouver, Canada – The movie was set in Oregon but the actual filming was done mostly in Vancouver.
Final Reflection: Is It Worth Watching?
✅ Utilize it if you prefer:
✔ Young adult emotional dramas (Me Before You, The Fault In Our Stars)
✔ Love stories with fantasy elements (The Lovely Bones)
✔ Songs dealing with family, love, and music that tends to get emotional
❌ Avoid it if you dislike:
✖ Slow-paced romances that melodraamatize.
✖ Films with overused “life or death” situations.
✖ Stories told mainly with flashbacks.
Final Verdict: An Empathetic, Compassionate Young Adult Drama.
If I Stay reviwers have critized the movie for being monotonous, but it does excel in feelings and nostalgia. It is this bittersweet love story combined with a heartwarming performance from Moretz as well as the loveetly soundtrack that earned If I Stay more fans than critics. 💙🎻