'Red Dawn' meets Nicholas Sparks in 'How I Live Now' trailer

Posted Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 4:52 PM Central
Last updated Monday, October 21, 2013 at 8:12 PM Central

by John Couture

I always thought that Magnolia was going to have a difficult time selling How I Live Now. It's not exactly your cookie-cutter type of film and that's what is so appealing about it.

On the one hand, the trailer starts out like any other Nicholas Sparks book-turned-movie with young love blossoming amid plenty of sunshine. Then, something goes terribly wrong about a minute into it.

Thankfully, Nicholas Sparks didn't have anything to do with this film. Instead, it's based on a novel by Meg Rosoff and is set in the near future where an American girl on holiday in England finds love just when World War 3 unexpectedly explodes into existence all around her.

If you enjoyed Red Dawn (the original), then this film looks to be right up your alley. It follows familiar arcs with young love and rebellious spirits fighting for love and their way of life.

If you recognize the lead actress, that's Saoirse Ronan, who broke out in a big way playing the lead in Hanna. The fact that she's being whispered as circling a part in Star Wars: Episode VII makes this film very intriguing to me.

How I Live Now opens in theaters on November 8.