A researcher for the Chicago Tribune (Robin Wright Penn) discovers a heartfelt message inside a bottle while on vacation in the Northeast. The letter’s publication proves popular, and she journeys to North Carolina seeking out the man who penned it (Kevin Costner). Paul Newman appears as his father, with John Savage portraying his angry brother-in-law. "Message in a Bottle" (1999) is an enjoyable drama/romance featuring recognizable actors and scenic East Coast settings. However, certain aspects of the storyline feel forced, and some genuinely baffling questions arise that I’d rather not discuss for fear of ruining it for those seeing it for the first time. Fortunately, there's enough positive to prevent me from dismissing the film entirely. A well-executed subplot explores themes of male aggression and eventual understanding; men often struggle to express heartfelt apologies directly, but they do so through less obvious actions. You just have to look closely. When Theresa asks Garrett, "Will you come and visit me," Roger Ebert criticized what he considered poor writing in Garrett’s reply: "You mean, inland?" I think he missed the fact that Garrett was teasing her, which resulted in Theresa's laughter. Some viewers object to the film being shot in Maine when the story is set in The Outer Banks, North Carolina—two locations that don't resemble each other and feel disrespectful of the audience’s intelligence. The producers attempted to film elsewhere further south but were unable to secure the necessary permissions and had to use Maine (Bath, New Harbor, Phippsburg & Portland) instead. Still, the coastal scenery isn't a major element, so it doesn't detract too much from the experience. If you find this bothersome, simply picture Garrett tossing the bottles into the ocean in Maine, and Theresa discovering the initial message while on vacation in Nova Scotia; that resolves the issue. The film’s running time is 2 hours and 6 minutes, and filming took place in Maine and Chicago, along with locations at Falls Lake, Backlot, Universal Studios, Southern Cal. GRADE: C

Source on TMDB