I don’t talk about God much. If anything, I sometimes hint at what I believe, but I don’t make it a personal mission to preach. I leave that job to the preachers. I’ve had folks, though, who have asked me what I believe, and it’s with some reservations I tell them.
In the movie A Walk to Remember, Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore), however, doesn’t hold back. She loves God, and she’ll take every opportunity to show it. You see, Jamie comes from a strict Baptist background. Her father (Peter Coyote) is the town’s minister and her mother passed away some time ago. She enjoys lending a hand at the orphanage, working with animals, and taking care of her father. No one’s ever asked her out on a date, but she’s quite fine with that. She’s happy living a quiet life away from what the other teens at her school are doing. Her most prized possessions are the sweater she wears every day and her bible.
When Landon Carter (Shane West) walks into Jamie’s life, she doesn’t think anything of it. After all, he’s part of the popular crowd and to other girls, he’s worth falling over to get his attention. If anything, she’s happy to have a new friend, regardless of his troublemaking ways. Jamie considers him an accomplished goal. Her number forty-two on her to-do list—to befriend somebody she doesn’t like.
Jamie’s to-do list also contains some other notable goals such as spend a year in the Peace Corps, make a medical discovery, be in two places at once and get a tattoo. Her number one goal is marry in the church where her mother grew up and her parents were married.
Aside from Jamie’s lofty ambitions, she’s also not shy with speaking her mind. Thinking Jamie to be a pushover, one of Landon’s friends stands on the receiving end of her quick wit:
Dean: If there is a higher power, why is it He can’t get you a new sweater?
Jamie: He’s too busy looking for your brain.
Another aspect of Jamie’s character is having the wisdom to see where things are going with her friendship with Landon. She asks him to promise he won’t fall in love with her. A silly request, but she asks it anyway given her circumstances.
The funny thing is how can Landon help not falling in love with Jamie? The truth is more powerful than fiction as is Jamie’s friendship with Landon. They can’t run from feeling what they feel for each other, but more importantly, Jamie sees Landon’s love by everything he does for her. His actions speak more than words.
And this is where I have to stop. I can’t continue without revealing spoilers. Suffice it to say, Jamie is selfless in every way a person can be selfless. She loves Landon more than words can express. And she is more of a woman than anyone could ever imagine hadn’t it been for Landon walking into her life.
I’m proud to feature Jamie Sullivan for this week’s Women Who Wow Wednesday post because she represents freedom—freedom from the typical Hollywood love story, and freedom from the heroine stereotype often posed in stories like this.
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What do you think of A Walk to Remember? What do you think of Jamie Sullivan?
Looking to God 
I love A Walk to Remember and Jamie Sullivan is an awesome character. Her and Landon’s love story is amazing. One of the few that I think Nicholas Sparks nailed 🙂
This is one of our favorite movies…my daughters and I can watch this one again and again. It is also the only Nicholas Sparks adaptation that I think worked well as a movie. Great review!
jack flacco,i have read that piece,about sharing our beliefs it depends on one’s purpose.moving on, a walk to remember,i’m going to come on a critical angle,jamie could be religious. She finds her value and worth in what she does, take that away and she has no clue who she is(here im speaking about the jamie’s in the world).That guy lannon ,falling for a presumerbly church girl is stereotype.He wants what is in the unknown.Jack Flacco though im a christian ,apart from the passion of christ movie (because mel made it) a hundred percent of my movies are secular meaning they are not imposing .Religion manipulates.just a thought,have a good day james flacco
I watched this in my teenage years with a close friend and at the time I thought it was a decent romantic movie though I usually stay away from them.(horror and thriller are my thing heh), having rewatched this in my twenties, I learnt to understand and very closely relate to ‘Jamie’ in this movie because I too have my own bucket list and what im going through with my illness (same condition) yet striving to keep the good times going and enjoying even the simplest moments. This movie shows that in a touching manner.
I love the fact you mentioned the quote from the movie..that specific moment makes Jamie stronger than she looks and she stands up for herself despite the bullying. Not to mention an intellectual comeback. Great movie.
Thank you for sharing, Sonea.
The quote has always stuck in my memory as being a perfect example of who Jamie really is. Strong and confident.
Reblogged this on Rare Films & TV Classics on DVD.
Thanks very much for the reblog!
Excellent review. Thanks
Sold! When can I see this?
Love this movie! Haven’t watched it in years simply because of the emotional toll it takes every time I watch it. Switchfoot’s music was featured on this film, which is awesome, too!
Ditto on the heartbreak. Switchfoot’s song is amazing in this movie!
I, like you, keep religion inside. I do not enter into major conversations about it because no one cares about my opinion and they are firm in theirs. Believe if you wish and may you be granted a great life.
I loved the movie “A Walk To Remember” and Jamie Sullivan. I think you chose a wonderful woman to feature this week! I enjoyed this article. 🙂
I have never seen this movie, but I somehow have a gut feeling that I’d find it more inspiring & palatable than some ” religious ” movies that I’ve seen, like ” God Isn’t Dead ” ( Which I found to be predictable & filled with 1 – dimensional characters, despite the presence of some GOOD actors, like Kevin Sorbo & Dean Cain ).
I love Kevin Sorbo!