THE VOW Movie Review
By: RAMA
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Two of the most good looking people on the planet in a romantic drama, that’s Hollywood’s usual way of celebrating Valentine’s Day and you’d be a sucker if you don’t fall for it because it doesn’t get more sweet and more wonderful than THE VOW. Both Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams are Nicholas Sparks graduates, having worked on Dear John and ladies’ favorite, The Notebook, respectively, so this area of storytelling is nothing new to them. Sure they may be riding on the waves of their popularity and good looks but they sure know what they’re doing..
A newlywed couple recovers from a car accident that puts the wife in a coma. Waking up with severe memory loss, her husband endeavors to win her heart again.
Obviously, the plot is very thin, and it’s said to be based on true events, whenever a film says something like that, it could mean a compilation of similar true stories or they’d take one true story that stands out and alter it to their own liking but either case, THE VOW does its job. And if some of you may have concerns that this could turn into Memento or 50 First Dates, nothing against those two movies, but THE VOW doesn’t require post-it notes or polaroids and the memory doesn’t get erased every time the woman wakes up every single morning either.
I think the verdict is still out when it comes to whether or not you’d consider Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams talented actors. I think in THE VOW, Tatum busts out his usual good-hearted, honest character who wants other’s happiness before his own, at least this time his character doesn’t have some sort of military background, so in a way, Leo is something new. At times, McAdams’ character, Paige, can come across as the bad guy in the story because it makes you the audience feel like Leo is the one being disadvantaged, but McAdams manages to create a reason for you to want to put yourself in her shoes.
The chemistry of Tatum-McAdams is electric and genuine in my book, they play off each other really well.
Jessica Lange and Sam Neill gave just as strong performances in supporting roles.
I think they could’ve chosen a better philosophical lesson than Leo’s narration about his theories of moments of impact, but other than that, I don’t have much complaint.
I’m surprised to find that there are more than 3 names in the screenwriting credit, I wonder how many drafts and rewrites that had to be done until the studio gave it a go.
What I enjoyed about the film is mostly Paige’s struggle. Yes, it’s heartbreaking to see Leo fighting for the woman he loves, trying to make his wife fall in love with him all over again, it makes for a big adorable aww. But Paige’s struggle is the one most interesting because her memory loss has put her in a position to see what her life could’ve been if she’d made a different choice, all of a sudden certain opportunities open up, and that makes Leo’s job of getting her back all the more difficult. There’s a tug of war with her family and her ex and then certain secrets resurface. Some may argue that THE VOW is just an excuse for Hollywood to have something opening on the weekend of Valentine’s Day 2012, well, be that as it may, I think the story’s ability to make you hope and believe in the possibility and second chances even though all signs are pointing at the other direction, is the every essence that makes THE VOW the perfect Valentine movie.
GRADE: 4 out of 5
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