Romance/Drama. Diane Lane, Richard Gere, Christopher Meloni, Mae Whitman, Scott Glenn, James Franco. Director: George C Wolfe.

Lost souls are gifted a second chance at love in George C Wolfe’s slushy romance, adapted from the best-selling novel by Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook).

With obvious echoes of The Bridges Of Madison County — but none of that film’s deep, emotional resonance — Nights In Rodanthe shamelessly tugs the heartstrings with its contrived tale of chance encounters and all-consuming passion.

Diane Lane and Richard Gere, who previously collaborated on The Cotton Club and Unfaithful, are an attractive pairing.

Once again, they generate palpable on-screen chemistry, the latter remaining on the right side of cheesy — but only just — when he has to whisper sweet nothings such as: “Any man is a fool who doesn’t know how incredibly lucky he is to have you.”

There’s an inevitability to the tears of the final act, accomplished with surprisingly little fanfare by Wolfe, although the director can’t resist a final shot on the beach that probably wasn’t quite so laughable on the page.

Facing major decisions in her life about her wayward husband Jack (Meloni) and resentful teenage daughter Amanda (Whitman), Adrienne Willis (Lane) elects to clear her head by venturing to the tiny North Carolina coastal community of Rodanthe.

There, she promises to take care of the beachside inn run by her good friend Jean (Davis), who needs to spend the weekend in Miami.

Thankfully, Jean is only expecting one guest so Adrienne should have plenty of time to herself to contemplate her future.

The promise of peace and quiet is short-lived with news of an impending storm, which could trap Adrienne in town for longer than expected.

As she battens down the hatches, Adrienne meets the inn’s solitary guest, Dr Paul Flanner (Gere), who needs to track down local resident Robert Torrelson (Glenn).

Stocking up on supplies at the local convenience store, Adrienne learns that Torrelson’s wife died during a routine operation.

As the storm begins to rage around them, Adrienne and Paul cling to one another for emotional and physical comfort. It's familiar stuff and only the most easily manipulated will shed a tear.