Miley 'Ghastly' in Last Song

The Last Song has two strikes against it in most critics' opinions: It's Nicholas Sparks' adaptation of his book...and it stars Miley Cyrus. On the plus side, baby turtles? Some takes:

• It's not that bad, Roger Moore writes in the Orlando Sentinel. "Not a great film," of course, "but there’s real chemistry between the young lovers."

• Say what? writes Mick LaSalle in the San Francisco Chronicle. "Cyrus is ghastly" and her casting is "a disservice to the audience, to the material, and to Cyrus herself." Plus, the material is terrible. There's an idea here "about people being imperfect," but in the end they "mean well and everything works out fine. That's a lie, and this movie is the proof."
• "Another leg on the never-ending Nicholas Sparks Death Tour" is Glenn Whipp's diagnosis for the AP. The author's use of tragedy is "risible." Otherwise, Miley is Miley. In one scene, someone tells her character she can "really sing." "Those who would agree with that statement will find little wrong with The Last Song." If you don't, steer clear.
• There was audible sobbing in the screening this reviewer attended, so somebody cares, writes Michael Ordoña in the Los Angeles Times. But "acting is an unconnected series of camera-ready smiles and poses. Only Greg Kinnear survives the attrition, sort of."

(More Miley Cyrus stories.)