THE VOW (2012)

Genre: Romance/Drama
Director: Michael Sucsy
Cast: Channing Tatum, Rachel McAdams, Scott Speedman, Jessica Lange, Sam Neill, Wendy Crewson, Jessica McNamee
Runtime: 1 hr 44 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Sexual References and Coarse Language)
Released By: Sony Pictures Releasing International
Official Website: http://www.thevow-movie.com/

Opening Day: 5 April 2012

Synopsis: Real-life story of a newlywed New Mexico couple, Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, who were struck by tragedy shortly after their marriage. A car crash puts the wife in a coma, where she is cared for by her devoted husband. When she comes to, without any memory of her husband or their marriage, the husband must woo her and ultimately win her heart once again.

Movie Review:

It is one of those things which would probably make you shed a tear or two – only if it happened to someone you know. A guy and a girl get married. Even before you can say “happy ending”, something unfortunate happens and the girl forgets who the guy is. The guy goes all out to make her fall in love with him again. There you have it, a perfect love story waiting to be made into a movie starring two of Hollywood’s best looking people.

In this case, we have Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams filling the roles of the ill fated couple. Based on a true story which happened in New Mexico, the Michael Sucsy directed movie has McAdams’ Paige waking up from a coma after a car accident, only to realise she has no memory of the last few years of her life. To top it all off, she does not remember anything about her husband (an earnest Tatum trying his best to emote), Leo. What she remembers though, is living with her rich parents and a successful ex boyfriend.

What we get in this 104 minute movie is a series of attempts made by Leo trying to make his wife remember the love they once shared. Along the way, we also get Sam Neil and Jessica Lange appearing as the Paige’s unlikable parents, as well as Scott Speedman as her suave ex boyfriend.

So we see Tatum trying very hard, looking very moody and sulky most of the time, to achieve that happy ending he deserves. To be fair, one cannot help but feel sorry for the male protagonist, given his circumstances. One also cannot bear to be too critical about Tatum’s performance, given how he has proven to be a good looker (with or without clothes). The result is a tolerable romance drama which develops at a calculating and predictable pace, one that wants you to empathise with how fate has been so very unkind to the characters.

And yes, the filmmakers did not forget to insert those cooing voiceovers which sound poetic on paper, but plain cheesy when narrated (either that or it’s just Tatum’s disengaging vocals).

Slightly more commendable is McAdams, who comfortably portrays a confused individual torn between two options in her next stage of life. The starlet does not make you forget that other than looking lovely on screen, she is a capable performer who manages her emotions well.

When put together, Tatum and McAdams manage to pass off as a loving couple with some chemistry between them. Considering how each of them already scores quite highly in the looks department, this feat isn’t exactly difficult to pull off.

The dreary pace of the movie is further bogged down by the lack of memorable cinematic moments. You see the guy dragging his feet throughout the movie, as he remembers the happier days while hoping for a miracle to happen. Although that miracle does eventually happen, you can’t feel the ecstasy and joy (you probably would if it was someone you knew). You’d be quite glad though, that the movie has come to an end, just the way you predicted it to.

Movie Rating:

(Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams may look good together on screen, but they pull no surprises in this dreary romance flick )

Review by John Li