Call me a sucker for romantic films. I don't care. Your name-calling won't budge me from falling for The Vow, 2012's version of The Notebook complete with Rachel McAdams in the starring role. It's semi-hokey, the supporting characters are not much more than window dressing, and once we get to the heart of the story, the film does drag a bit. Yet The Vow doesn't feel formulaic while you're watching it, the acting's terrific, and the lead characters are surprisingly compelling.
The Vow's not just the weepy love story for hard-up romance fans that the trailers make it seem, but instead a truly moving relationship film with more depth than you'd expect. Even with its flaws, The Vow will no doubt shortly be taking its place on that list of guilty pleasures you don't channel surf off of on TV, films you can watch over and over again (like The Notebook) but don't often admit to being hooked on.
Releasing the weekend before Valentine's Day, The Vow is set up to be the perfect date movie. Yes, it'll play better to the female crowd. And, yes, Channing Tatum's shirtless and even pantless (the man has an incredible body) which provides a great deal of eye candy, while Rachel McAdams mostly keeps her clothes on. But anyone who can get into a touching romantic story of love found, love lost, and love rediscovered should be able to find something to latch onto in this moving romantic drama based on a true story.
McAdams plays Paige, an artist actually making a living off of her sculptures. She's happily married to Leo, the owner of a recording studio and all-around great guy. Leo's the sort of dude you want as a best friend, plus he's good-looking and has a sense of humor. They're happy together, and are even at the point of talking about having a baby.
Unfortunately, it's the baby-making conversation that leads to a life-altering event. Paige unclasps her seatbelt to get a little more snuggly with her hubby as they wait at a stop sign, and the snowy road causes a truck to not break in time to avoid hitting them. Paige smashes through the windshield and survives, but the impact to her head leaves her with limited amnesia.
Coming to after a drug-induced coma, Paige has absolutely no memories from the last five years of her life. She doesn't recognize her husband, doesn't understand why she's an artist when she was planning on going to law school, and doesn't remember that she hasn't seen or spoken to her family during those five now-absent-from-her-mind years. She does, however, recall that she's engaged to Jeremy (Scott Speedman who doesn't look like he's aged a day since Felicity).
Leo's a stranger and the home they've made together brings up no feelings of comfort, while being in Jeremy's presence makes her feel safe and more like herself. Even watching their wedding video (a very hip event that took place on the sly in an art museum with a few close friends) elicits no emotional response from Paige who grows more and more perplexed over her relationship with Leo the more she learns of her new life.
Rachel McAdams is one of those rare actresses who has great chemistry with her male co-stars, no matter who they are. And with The Vow, she and Channing Tatum have an electric connection onscreen which makes their responses to Paige's memory loss feel so genuine. McAdams' Paige is lost and confused, and when she pulls away from this stranger she's married to, it's heartbreaking to watch. Tatum shoulders the burden of carrying the film emotionally, since his Leo knows what the couple has lost while Paige is actually content returning to her old country club lifestyle with her fancy friends, as opposed to returning to her more bohemian life she and Leo were leading before the accident.
Directed by Michael Sucsy (Grey Gardens) and inspired by the true story of Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, The Vow is a charming romantic film that's completely engaging. For all those who've been searching for the new Notebook, The Vow is as close as we're likely to come anytime soon.
GRADE: B
The Vow was directed by Michael Sucsy and is rated PG-13 for an accident scene, sexual content, partial nudity and some language.
Theatrical Release: February 10, 2012
