This film explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life. An attractive, educated, professionally fulfilled doctor (Sandra Bullock) "meets" an attractive, educated, sensitive architect (Keanu Reeves) via letters and a past common residency of a particular lake house. What could be the problem? The problem is that they are currently living two years apart and then again at the exact same time in this romantic, heart-wrenching, dramatic fairy tale.
The doctor leaves the lake house in rural Illinois in 2006 in order to advance her career and find happiness in Chicago. She leaves a note to an unknown-to-her new tenant, the architect, to forward her mail. They correspond with each other and slowly discover that he is actually living in the house two years earlier, in 2004. And they share the same dog. But somehow the viewer can suspend disbelief and get into this story because the two characters are believable and intelligent, and are initially just as skeptical of the time riddle as the viewer.

The genre of "The Lake House" is completely different, but the actors are just as complementary and likable in this fantasy tale. They both display a deep, patient and profound love for each other. And they do so with grace, charm and a chemistry that can't be readily explained. Much of this film plays like a mystery with mothers and fathers, siblings, and boy and girl friends weaving in and out of the story in the present time of 2004, and the present time of 2006. But, through it all, the doctor and the architect ultimately never lose hope that they can solve this time puzzle and can actually be together at the same moment in time.
This is the first time that these two actors have been together since the success of "Speed". They have once again found an on-screen chemistry that will lead them to another, perhaps better, product this time around.