Sparks fly in new big screen romance 'The Longest Ride'

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- "The Longest Ride" is the latest romantic movie based on a best-selling novel from author Nicholas Sparks. It's a story of opposites attracting.

Britt Robertson plays an art history buff who wants to eventually build a life in New York City, but those plans get derailed when she meets a good ol' cowboy. Scott Eastwood, son of Clint Eastwood, plays a competitive bull rider whose life revolves around the rodeo.

The actor was thrilled he had the chance to actually ride a bull himself.

"It was important for me, because I have too much respect for these guys to go around and say, 'I played a bull rider,' without actually doing it," Eastwood said.

Robertson managed to stay away from the bull riding, but she was required to learn to ride a horse!

In the film, the newly in love couple meets an older widowed man, played by Alan Alda. They discover he has a treasure trove of love letters written by his late wife. The letters and the flashback sequences they inspire reveal that "the longest ride" is really a metaphor for maintaining a long and happy relationship.

"The happily ever after thing, that's a bit of a pipe dream," Robertson said. "I don't think that happily ever exists in a way that people want it to exist. There are challenges in life, but that's what's fun about being in a relationship is what you do with those challenges and how you face them together. Then you overcome it together and then it's better. That is my happily ever after."

"The Longest Ride" is an unabashed romance and the stars think it's the perfect foil for the current box office sensation.

"Guys are gonna want to see 'Fast and Furious' and then they'll take their girlfriends and go see 'The Longest Ride,'" predicted Britt.

Eastwood quickly added, "There's something for guys too. I think if you get dragged to this by your girl or significant other, the guys will leave saying, 'That was pretty damn cool.'"

"They'll be satisfied or at least not mad!" Robertson said.

"The Longest Ride" is rated PG-13 and is in theaters now.