The Vow directed by Michael Sucsy

The Vow

Rated PG-13

The Vow is a tragic love story that seems like it’s based off of a Nicholas Sparks novel, starring actors that have in fact, been in films based off a Nicholas Sparks novel.

In actuality, the film is based off real life couple Nick and Krickett Carpentar, who were in automobile accident in 1993 that left the woman (Krickett) with no recollection of the year prior, including her wedding which was a mere 10 weeks before the accident. The story is about her recovery and how the couple had to work through the complications of memory loss and more important, love loss, as Krickett did not recognize her husband nor could find the means to stay married to a man that she did remember.

Here’s a tip: don’t go into this screening thinking you are going to be watching an extremely romantic movie. The clips that you see of the couple in the trailer, names changed for obvious reasons, are of Leo (Channing Tatum) and Paige (Rachel McAdams) happily in love. Yet, they are only flashbacks. A majority of the movie is spent uncomfortably after the accident, as Leo comes to realize that his wife’s last memories are of the times she spent in College, engaged to another man. In fact, she doesn’t resemble the woman that Leo married at all, and likewise, Leo does not come close to the type of man that Paige was engaged too. Though I can sympathize with Paige’s condition and the circumstances of her situation, I found McAdams, who plays the young woman, incredibly annoying. Might I remind you that she woke up to seeing her husband looking like Channing Tatum! Joking aside, Paige (McAdams) was so frustratingly cruel to Leo at times, that I found myself saying, “You deserve better, Leo. Let it go.”

But, I will give credit where credit is due and Channing Tatum’s acting has improved considerably. I found his performance heartfelt and believable. He definitely carried the weight of the film and his character’s persistence is to be commended.

Overall, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I didn’t shed a tear and damn them for showing us photos of the real life couple! Yet, in the end, I was only slight moved by the context of the story and did not find the film incredibly endearing. Still, it was an interesting enough and worth seeing for Tatum’s performance. The Vow opens in theatres today, February 10.

Cast and Credit:

Directed by Michael Sucsy

Channing Tatum-Leo

Rachel McAdams-Paige

Jessica Lange-Rita Thorton

Sam Neil-Bill Thorton