You know you’re in trouble when a film has a title with a questionable pronunciation, even when it stars consummate pros with proven, undeniable chemistry, like Richard Gere and Diane Lane. In Nights in Rodanthe (pronounced Road-dan-thee), the complex characters they played in Unfaithful have been replaced by boring, treacle spewing, caricatures. But then, what do you expect of a film adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel?

The house, perched in the sand above the surf on an island in South Carolina, is the true star of the film — just about the only aspect worth watching. Lane gamely attempts to breathe life into her character, Adrienne, a frumpy house frau with two children, who has recently been left by her husband. He’s suddenly experienced an about face, however, and entreats her to let him come back, just as she’s leaving for the weekend to mind a bed and breakfast for an opinionated best friend (overplayed by Viola Davis). The inn’s only guest is a troubled plastic surgeon, (Gere) who has come to the island to rectify a professional wrong, and finds—surprise—love! The attraction is clearly manufactured, since Adrienne’s conversation consists of rambling incessantly  about her children and little else. We are supposed to assume her character’s growth from the revival of her penchant for building small boxes out of driftwood. Even Gere can’t pull off lines like, “Adrienne! Adrienne!” and “drawing road maps on your body.” James Franco has a pivotal role as Gere’s son, but has wisely chosen to remain uncredited.

Just when you think the film can’t get any sappier, there is a twist at the end so cheap and manipulative you feel offended rather than moved. Instead of reaching for a tissue to wipe away your tears, you want to throw the whole damn box at the screen. How dare they so drastically underestimate romantic movie fans?  Clearly the film was sold by virtue of its star quality, not its content, which is a shame. The world can always use a little more emotion, a little more romance. But you won’t find it in Rodanthe. Rated PG-13 Lisa Johnson Mandell