Y/A film IF I STAY-If only I Left

Summertime brings the big box office films & the smaller, romantic young adult films.  The film THE FAULT in OUR STARS was an intelligent & appealing love story of 2 cancer stricken teens.  IF I STAY has a handsome teen couple who fall in love and then deal with the heartwrenching trauma of growing up & growing apart.  This film is also shrouded in tragedy involving Mia (a beautiful & disarming Chloe Moretz) her parents & younger brother.  Mia's boyfriend, Adam (an engaging Jamie Blackley with a sexy singing voice) is in a local rock band.  Adam graduates & is ready to move forward with his career & away from Mia despite their passionate love.  Mia is also a gifted cellist aspiring for Julliard.  Most of the film is seen in flashback following the horrific car crash that leaves Mia in a coma & takes the lives of her hip, closeknit family.  Mia's body lies in a coma as we watch her trying to communicate with Adam, friends & family; much like Patrick Swayze in Ghost.  The platitudes about life & love are enough to bury this movie.  Thankfully, it is rescued by the earnest performances of its star leads.  Stacy Keach as Mia's granddad also lends gravitas to the meaning of family ties & sacrifices.  "Life is a big stinking mess.  But that's the beauty of it," Mia's mom tells her.  "Sometimes we make choices in life & sometimes choices in life make you."  I should have chosen to leave but this is an appealing young adult love story for the brace face set.