Message in a Bottle (1999)

32% of critics liked it
(38 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(60,316 ratings)

Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, Message In A Bottle stars Robin Wright Penn as Theresa Osborne, a writer for the Chicago Tribune. While her son visits her cheating ex-husband, Theresa goes on a vacation by herself. One day, while running on the beach, she finds a bottle washed up on the… More Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, Message In A Bottle stars Robin Wright Penn as Theresa Osborne, a writer for the Chicago Tribune. While her son visits her cheating ex-husband, Theresa goes on a vacation by herself. One day, while running on the beach, she finds a bottle washed up on the shore. She opens it and inside finds a love letter unlike any she's ever read. Captivated by the author's words of love, she returns to her job at the Tribune where she convinces her boss to run an article about the mystery writer, known only as "G." He approves, and Theresa begins her hunt. Scrutinizing every physical detail of the letter and the path the bottle may have taken, she eventually locates Garret Blake (Kevin Costner), a North Carolina boat-restorer who has not been the same since the tragic death of his beloved wife Catherine. Since her death, Garret has written several letters to his dead wife, put them in a bottles, and let them loose in the sea. As Theresa spends time with Garret, she quickly falls in love with him, though she neglects to tell him she knows about the letters. Garret, prodded by his cantankerous, no-nonsense dad, Dodge (Paul Newman), emerges from his shell of grief and develops an interest in Theresa as well. Theresa returns to Chicago and Garret soon visits her; he meets her son, Jason (Jesse James), but also discovers her knowledge of the letters. Eventually the two, who have both lost love, must cast off their emotional baggage and decide if they will pursue love even if it can't always last. ~ Ron Wells, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 6 min.
Directed By: Luis Mandoki
Written By: Gerald Di Pego
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Feb 12, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Aug 3, 1999
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
Costner has a free pass to be as lazy as he can possibly be, and the result is one of the most smugly alienating romantic lead performances that I can quickly call to mind.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...manipulative, pointless, and depressing. What should have been a touching, uplifting love story leaves one angry. (Nicholas Sparks Film Collection)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
If it had just quit while it was ahead....
John Venable, Supercala.com
Leaves one feeling empty.
Victor Olliver, Teletext
If only Costner could be cast out to sea like a bottle.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Paul Newman as a cantankerous old man steals this movie with his character's endearing forthrightness.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast: Kevin Costner, Robin Wright Penn, Paul Newman, Robbie Coltrane, John Savage, Illeana Douglas Director: Luis Mandoki Summary: Newspaper researcher Theresa Osborne (Robin Wright Penn) finds a letter in a bottle penned by grieving shipbuilder Garret Blake (Kevin Costner),… More
Cast: Kevin Costner, Robin Wright Penn, Paul Newman, Robbie Coltrane, John Savage, Illeana Douglas Director: Luis Mandoki Summary: Newspaper researcher Theresa Osborne (Robin Wright Penn) finds a letter in a bottle penned by grieving shipbuilder Garret Blake (Kevin Costner), who writes to ease the pain of his wife's death. But when Osborne tracks Blake down, their growing attraction is endangered by their pasts. Based on Nicholas Sparks's best-selling novel, director Luis Mandoki's romantic drama explores the possibility of love amid heartache. My Thoughts: "Another film based on a Nicholas Sparks book. I'm not familiar with his books. Never read one, but I have seen quite a few of the films based on his novels. I don't know if this is a spoiler or not so you may want to skip this sentence or a few more of them; but is every relationship in his books doomed? Every film I have seen of his, the relationships are going great and then BAM! The love interest is dead. Quite depressing way to write. Build up such a great love story to just end it in despair. The man is obsess with killing off all the 'better halves' of these poor people. Besides that, I thought the film was a good little sappy romance flick. I could have done without all the horrible love songs. The acting was good, and I loved Paul Newman as the no BS father. Kevin Costner redeemed himself in my eyes from the horrible film I recently saw him in. He does much better in these types of roles. Those of you who enjoyed the book, or who like romance films will enjoy this one as well."
Cassie H

I really enjoyed this but in my opinion I liked the book a lot better then the movie.
Red L

This movie is too much of a chick flick - and usually I don't mind them.
Manu G

It was okay, failrly decent romantic movie. If, as they say, you're in a certain mood, Message in a Bottle can be just the ticket. Based on Nicholas Sparks's bestselling novel, this handsome but overly calculated romance tale stars Robin Wright Penn as Theresa, a Chicago… More
It was okay, failrly decent romantic movie. If, as they say, you're in a certain mood, Message in a Bottle can be just the ticket. Based on Nicholas Sparks's bestselling novel, this handsome but overly calculated romance tale stars Robin Wright Penn as Theresa, a Chicago Tribune researcher who finds a note encased in a green bottle that has floated onto a Cape Cod shore. The message within is a heartfelt, yearning declaration of love to a woman named Catherine, but the author is unknown until Theresa tracks him down in North Carolina. He's Garret Blake, a taciturn builder of sailboats and a grieving widower whose late wife, poetically speaking, was the intended recipient of the seafaring note Theresa found. Theresa, a divorcée with a son, decides to meet Garret, only to find him as bottled-up as his message. Nevertheless, a romance blooms on the strength of quality time in a sailboat and lots of cuddling, though the script tosses in bits of conflict to keep their relationship spicy.
Leigh R

Beautiful film.
Panta O

If this American romantic drama directed by Luis Mandoki didn't have Paul Newman in it, it would be a real disaster! Based on a novel with the same name by Nicholas Sparks, the film stars Kevin Costner and Robin Wright Penn, but even they could not help such a boring screenplay… More
If this American romantic drama directed by Luis Mandoki didn't have Paul Newman in it, it would be a real disaster! Based on a novel with the same name by Nicholas Sparks, the film stars Kevin Costner and Robin Wright Penn, but even they could not help such a boring screenplay with uninspired directing... Theresa Osborne works for The Chicago Tribune as a researcher. On a trip to Cape Cod, she finds a mysterious, intriguing love letter in a bottle in the sand, addressed from G. to Catherine. She is fascinated by it and comes into possession of two more letters by the same person, eventually tracking down the man who wrote them, Garret Blake. Thant's all you want to know - everything else you would love to forget!
Andreia C

I cry every time I see this :´(
ashley h

I thought all the people fit the roles well,it was a bit long. I liked the book better,but my fav. is Paul Newman
Erin C

This movie had a really sweet story. I love Penn and Costner!
Lee K

Tear jerker wnd anotgher one of the many movies Costner did that i can actually sit thru.
Leo L

Beautiful movie!