The Vow - Movie Review

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Inspired by a true story, this film is watchable mainly because of the extraordinary events, which are genuinely involving and moving. Although typically, Hollywood has ramped up the emotions while avoiding subtlety at all costs.

Goofy recording engineer Leo (Tatum) and adorable artist Paige (McAdams) had a cute romance, quirky wedding and four happy years together before a car crash changed everything. Leo only has minor injuries, but Paige has lost some five years of memories. Crucially, she has no idea who Leo is. And she doesn't remember turning her back on her law course, smirking fiance (Speedman) and wealthy parents (Lange and Neill). They're all she remembers now, so Leo tries to remind her of who she became after she left them behind. If they'll let him.

Grounded in real life, the plot resists being forced into a standard movie structure, although the screenwriters try their best. Fortunately they have two extremely offbeat actors in the lead roles: Tatum plays Leo like a dork with a heart of gold (and the waxed, muscled chest of a stripper), while McAdams plays Paige as a sexy, strong-willed woman who's perplexed by the tattoo on her back and by Leo saying that she's a vegetarian.

Actually, the premise is so intriguing that we let the filmmakers get away with shameless manipulation and trite plot points, from the annoying existential voiceover to Leo's rather half-hearted attempts to convince Paige that she loves him. But the tensions between Paige's old and new lives are effectively played, with strong contrast between the buttoned-up opulence of her Lake Forest family and the eclectic, loose cosiness of her spacious inner-city loft.
Yes, the filmmakers make sure we don't miss a thing.

And this is a bit of a problem, because by removing any chance that we might discover something ourselves, the film feels thin and contrived. Every emotional point is pushed home with sappy dialog, music and performances. Some of this is warmly emotional, and there are some nicely humorous moments along the way as well, along with a surprisingly effective ending. If only we could forget the cliches we had to endure to get there.

Facts and Figures

Year: 2012

Run time: 104 mins

In Theaters: Friday 10th February 2012

Box Office USA: $125.0M

Box Office Worldwide: 124

Budget: $30M

Distributed by: Sony Pictures

Production compaines: Spyglass Entertainment, Screen Gems

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 2.5 / 5

Rotten Tomatoes: 29%
Fresh: 37 Rotten: 89

IMDB: 6.8 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director: Michael Sucsy

Producer: Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Jonathan Glickman, Paul Taublieb

Screenwriter: Jason Katims, Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein

Starring: Rachel McAdams as Paige, Channing Tatum as Leo, Sam Neill as Bill Thornton, Scott Speedman as Jeremy, Jessica Lange as Rita Thornton, Lucas Bryant as Kyle, Kristina Pesic as Lizbet, Jessica McNamee as Gwen, Dillon Casey as Ryan, Tatiana Maslany as Lily

Also starring: Wendy Crewson, Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Jonathan Glickman, Jason Katims, Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein