Confession: This is one of the few movies of any genre that I have seen 3 times or more.

Your woman will love this movie. You will likely find it bearable. There is a high dose of drama, and overplayed emotion. Fortunately, the theme is not entirely nebulous. There is a point to the story, and it conveys a meaningful purpose. The indecisive main character struggles between a star-crossed summer love and a more privileged, respectable fiancée. Ryan Gosling gets it done and wins back the girl by doing what men should do: growing a beard and building something with his bare hands. The movie frequently crosses the line from bearable to sappy/corny/ridiculous but is balanced by good acting and a believable storyline. You will like it, but you will not want to admit it.