The Lake House

SGVN

July 5, 2006

By Kyra Kirkwood

Donning a platter-sized wedding ring on her otherwise jewel-free hand, Sandra Bullock may be just the person qualified to talk about love and romance. After all, she is happily engaged in one of those beauty-and-the-beast marriages that is too quirky not to work. The quintessential girl next door marries a younger, tattooed, biker-rebel mechanic and claims she couldn't be happier. On July 16, they will celebrate their first anniversary.

And I say, good for her. Good for her to avoid the traps of Hollywood "romance," the press-churned rumor mills, the society stigmas about early marriage and "blue collar" workers (OK, Jesse James, with all of his wealth and success, doesn't exactly qualify for true blue-collar membership, but you catch my drift). She's been quoted as saying (according to the Internet Movie Database): "I've always been very skeptical about marriage, because I only want to do it once; I want to do it the right way."

I'm a fan of Bullock's, and after meeting with her during publicity for her newest romance, "The Lake House," I actually have newfound respect for the nearly-42-year-old.

I knew I'd like the film, a Twilight Zone-esque romance also starring my on-screen fantasy, Keanu Reeves (who, by the way, is every bit as adorable in person). It weaves the tale of Dr. Kate Forester, who leaves behind a quaint residency and her dream rental on the lake to join the staff of a busy Chicago hospital. But before she moves, she leaves a note for the next lake-house tenant. Through that magic-like mailbox, Kate and the "new" tenant, Alex Wyler, begin exchanging letters and falling in love, despite the fact that they live two years apart.

"Let go of time, and your preconceived notions of time, and just be," Sandra said of the movie's theme. Then, pausing to laugh, she reveals her spunky self: "And if you write that literally, and if you don't say 'she said that sarcastically,' we'll personally come to your home and destroy your landscaping."

Director Alejandro Aresti based this film on the movie "Il Mare," and with Sandra and Keanu as lead actors, it does work. Ever since the two paired up in "Speed," they've had a palatable chemistry---for proof, check out their on-screen kiss. With these two, maybe even "Speed 2" would have worked. Maybe. I might be reaching here.

"It's like Nescafe—you add a little hot water and there you have us," joked Sandra, looking slimmer and younger in person, with a shoulder-length bob and an infectious grin.

As she walked into a Los Angeles hotel conference room, she was embarrassed to be caught sneaking a snack from the journalists' trough set up in an adjoining room. Now that's why she's America's sweetheart: an actor who not only eats, but pilfers from the journalists and sort of apologizes for it. You gotta love that.

As you have to when said actress later calls a journalist to task for asking her about her age. Maybe being married to a man who handles motorcycles is bringing out the spunk in her. She swears, she's funny, she's real and someone you'd actually want to be friends with (but not tick off). It's refreshing to see someone in this town be even a slice real, if not a bit sarcastic, as she calls it like it is.

She tells everyone in attendance that age means nothing except a check she marks on her driver's license, and that this age question is quite old when it's consistently, and only, asked to women actors.

"What difference does age make," she asked. "Numbers have no milestone in my life. [Turning 40] wasn't a milestone. Every birthday is a special occasion."

But ask her about romance and marriage, and she'll happily fill you in. Having married later than what society deems "acceptable," Bullock advocates for a perception change.

"It's healthier for human beings to be happy with themselves and to live with themselves and be satisfied with their lives and not need an extra something to complete it," she said. "Then, when something comes along that complements who you are, that's [ideal]."

That's how it happened with her as she became Mrs. James.

"I was so happy before I got married, and so satisfied and in the best place of my life. The timing was such that I met someone who complemented me and gave me a nice net to feel more adventurous with in life," she explained. "Now I've got someone watching my back. I've got someone who supports meäIt makes me want to be the best I can, the best partner."

Yet I still have a hard time picturing her with anyone other than Keanu. The chemistry between the two and the obvious friendship makes their on-screen partnerships even more rich. Perhaps it helps that throughout the years, Sandra and Keanu have exchanged letters and kept in contact. Not with the help of technology, since Mr. Reeves isn't email-savvy and refuses to use a computer. But, just like their characters in "The Lake House," they resort to old-fashioned methods: letter writing, a dying art of which both are fans.

"It's historic," said Sandra. "You have it in your hand. It's intangible. You have something you can pull out and remember. [Email] not the same thing as a letter."

"There's a different kind of attention there," said Keanu.

But can people really fall in love just through the printed word?

"I don't think I couldäbecause I'm too much a cynic and a hardhead," said Sandra. "But you can get to know and like qualities about them. I think people are more open by emails and in letters. There's nothing to lose because [they're] not face-to-face."

Added Keanu: "Falling in love and having a relationship are two different things."

So Neo once again comes forth with some sage wisdom. In a town where divorce is as common as wanna-be screenwriters, many people fail to recognize what Keanu points out. Relationships take work, they take effort and they take more than a few love letters or scribbled-down prose. He's been quoted lately in the press as saying he's ready for a commitment, a family; that's the top of his life-goal mountain. Sandra is living her dream marriage, not caring that the tabloids basically hoisted bets to see how long the union would last.

Like their "Lake House" characters, Sandra and Keanu seem to have a handle on what it takes to create real romance and relationships, not just passion and poetry. Perhaps that wisdom shines through on screen and makes "The Lake House" work, despite its twists and confusing turns. Or maybe it's their obvious friendship. Or perhaps it's because they're more experienced in life and know what they're talking about now.

Or maybe they just remembered to write it all down in a letter.