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Starring: Justin Hartley, Barrett Doss, Bonnie Bedelia, Treat Williams, Essence Atkins, James Remar
OUR RATING: ★★☆☆☆
Story:
Netflix romantic drama directed by Charles Shyer. The Noel Diary (2022) follows popular author Jake Turner (Justin Hartley) who returns home at Christmas to settle his estranged mother’s estate and discovers a diary that may hold secrets to his own past and that of Rachel (Barrett Doss), an interesting young woman on a journey of her own, searching for her birth mother. Together, they embark on a journey to challenge their pasts and discover a future that’s totally unforeseen.
Our Favorite Qutoes:
'What you may have needed before, you don't need anymore.' - Jake Turner (The Noel Diary) Click To Tweet
Best Quotes
Noel Ellis: Christmas is almost here. And after that day, I know my life will never be the same. I’m a little scared. Well, to be honest, a lot scared. What will happen to me, to us? And then there’s little Jacob. What about him? I just hope he’ll be okay.
Svetlana: You’re going to be okay, Mr. Jacob?
Jake Turner: Okay? Yeah, what do you mean? It’s me. Of course. I’m always okay.
Svetlana: But also always alone.
Jake Turner: I’m alone because I prefer it that way, you know that. Besides, I’m not alone. I got my best girl here, Ava. She’ll keep me company.
Matt Segreto: You know, us Regular Joes can never really live up to the super-suave dudes in your books.
Jake Turner: Those dudes aren’t real, Matt.
Matt Segreto: Yeah. Tell that to my wife.
Jake Turner: Hey, are you still painting?
Ellie Foster: You might as well ask if I’m still breathing.
Ellie Foster: [referring to Jake’s mother] It’s got to be really, really hard going through all her stuff.
Jake Turner: Yeah. What was it that Robert Frost always said? He said, “The best way out is always through,” right? Although I’m pretty sure he never met a hoarder.
Ellie Foster: I would imagine not.
Jake Turner: Woh. Woh. Hold on a second. You actually read my novels?
Ellie Foster: I’m probably the only one of your readers who can recognize some of the characters.
Jake Turner: The answer to your question, no, I have not tried a dating app. But I think you absolutely should.
Ellie Foster: I have to write something.
Jake Turner: Dating profile?
Ellie Foster: Yeah.
Jake Turner: I know a writer. May I?
Ellie Foster: You’re going to write my profile?
Jake Turner: It would be my pleasure.
Rachel Campbell: [to Jake] This is a little complicated. But I’m trying to find my mother. And I think you might be able to help me.
Jake Turner: I write a little bit.
Rachel Campbell: Really? Cool! Anything I know?
Jake Turner: You know, no. Probably not.
Rachel Campbell: No? Anything I’d like?
Jake Turner: No, probably not.
Rachel Campbell: Struggling artist? I get it. Well, I guess we’re all struggling in one way or another, huh?
Jake Turner: Ain’t that the truth.
Rachel Campbell: [referring to her mother, Noel] Honestly, just being in the house where she once lived makes me feel, I don’t know, more connected to her somehow.
Rachel Campbell: Actually, I just applied for a job as a translator at the UN. It’s a long shot.
Jake Turner: Long shot? Why is it a long shot?
Rachel Campbell: Isn’t everything?
Rachel Campbell: I’m not into all that “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” kind of stuff. The truth is I’m kind of ambivalent about the concept of being engaged. I mean, on the one hand, I like the certainty. But on the other, it makes you feel kind of boxed in, you know?
Jake Turner: Yeah, no, “boxed in” is something I’ve managed to avoid my entire life.
Rachel Campbell: I don’t know, I think being adopted, I’m just, I’m always trying to fill some kind of void. I’m always looking for security, and reliability. And that’s why I think if I find my real, my birth mom, I don’t know, it’ll resolve this huge uncertainty in my life. And then, I don’t know.
Jake Turner: You’ll be free.
'The best way out is always through.' - Jake Turner (The Noel Diary) Click To Tweet
Ellie Foster: [referring to his father knowing about Noel] You know, I really don’t think there would be any harm in talking…
Jake Turner: “Harm in talking”? No, there will be harm. I haven’t spoken to the guy in thirty-five years. Ellie, come on.
Rachel Campbell: [referring to Noel] I need to know if I ever mattered to her. Maybe you’ve wondered that about your dad?
Jake Turner: Truth is, if I ever saw him, I wouldn’t know what the hell to say to him.
Rachel Campbell: Well, maybe if you’re up for a drive, we could script a few lines.
Jake Turner: [referring to Rachel] She’s convinced me. And you. I’m going to go see my dad.
Ellie Foster: Jacob. Good for you.
Jake Turner: Well, the universe rewards the brave, right?
Rachel Campbell: You ready for this?
Jake Turner: Absolutely not. You?
Rachel Campbell: No. Let’s go.
Rachel Campbell: As it turns out, I didn’t really know about you either.
Jake Turner: What are you talking about?
Rachel Campbell: Well, I finally broke down and I Googled you.
'No creative idea is ever wasted.' - Rachel Campbell (The Noel Diary) Click To Tweet
Rachel Campbell: Because now I know you’re this like super famous, best-selling novelist, so.
Jake Turner: Super famous is a bit of a stretch, I think.
Rachel Campbell: Well, five million copies sold.
Jake Turner: It’s like five and a half at this point. But it’s okay, who’s counting?
Rachel Campbell: [to Jake, after finding out about his fame] Here was little old me worried about how you were going to pay for dinner.
Rachel Campbell: [referring to the diary] Jake, do you know what this is?
Jake Turner: No. You know what? It was in a box marked “personal” at my mom’s. I just kind of picked it up, and I didn’t look at it. What is it?
Rachel Campbell: Okay. Listen to this. “My name is Noel Ellis. I’m seventeen years-old, and I’m having a baby.” This is my mother’s diary. I know it.
Rachel Campbell: [from the diary] “My parents sent me away to have my baby. They’re ashamed of me.”
Noel Ellis: And they’re ashamed of the child I’m bringing into this world. And so, I’m leaving.
Rachel Campbell: [from the diary] “They truly believe it’s wrong for a woman to have a child outside of marriage. ‘God disapproves,’ they say.”
Noel Ellis: But doesn’t God forgive our mistakes? Everyone I know and trust has abandoned me.
'You know that saying, “Time heals all wounds?” It doesn't.' - Rachel Campbell (The Noel Diary) Click To Tweet
Rachel Campbell: Why is it that a handsome successful guy like you is still single?
Jake Turner: Handsome?
Rachel Campbell: Don’t deflect.
Jake Turner: I like to be alone, I guess, you know?
Rachel Campbell: Safer that way. I get it.
Jake Turner: I mean, I’ve had relationships in the past, don’t get me wrong. I’ve had serious relationships in the past, a few of them anyway. But, you know, in the end, they all just… In the end, I just wasn’t what they were looking for. You know?
Rachel Campbell: Maybe they weren’t what you were looking for.
Inn Desk Clerk: You’re in luck! Got two rooms left.
Jake Turner: Great! Terrific. You know, if this were a rom-com, you’d have one room left. We’d have to share it.
Inn Desk Clerk: Rom-com?
Jake Turner: Romantic comedy, rom-com.
Inn Desk Clerk: Oh, right. Well, if it helps, the rooms are connected.
Inn Receptionist: [referring to Jake] He writes almost as good as he looks.
Teenage Girl: [referring to Jake and Rachel] Excuse me. Are you two together?
Jake Turner: Oh, no. Yeah? Well, yeah. We were, you know, maybe we are.
Teenage Boy: Smooth.
'It all ends in tears anyway.' - Jake Turner (The Noel Diary) Click To Tweet
Jake Turner: You bought my book and you didn’t tell me?
Rachel Campbell: Yeah, well, I didn’t want to tell you just in case, you know?
Jake Turner: Just in case what?
Rachel Campbell: In case I didn’t like it.
Rachel Campbell: You know, I find it interesting that you write these novels filled with suspense, and drama, romance, and yet your main character, Henri, he never lets anyone get close to him. It’s kind of like what we were talking about last night.
Jake Turner: Henri lives in occupied France, right? He can’t trust anybody.
Rachel Campbell: Well, yeah, but this isn’t occupied America. So what’s your excuse?
Jake Turner: The endings are, they’re always hard to get right, you know. Yeah.
Rachel Campbell: Any thoughts on the current story? You going to get that ending right?
Trailer: