After seeing this film, I believe that Josh Lucas brought his own personality into Jake Perry. It made him seem real and gave you a real sense of what you hope Josh is like in real life. I personally think that Jake was portrayed brilliantly and makes you feel a connection to him and made you root for Melanie (Reese Witherspoon) to go back to him. Jake was a romantic at heart and and only wanted to prove his worth to the one he never stopping loving though all the years of seperation. It made you believe in happily ever after all over again.