The Vow

There are only two kinds of people when it comes to “The Vow”: those who are going to see it, (or already have seen it) and those who will only see it because their girlfriends really want to see it. And then there are those who are forced to go because their editors think they see too many “manly” movies.


“The Vow” is based off the true story of Kim and Krickett Carpenter. On November 24, 1993, Kim Carpenter was in a car accident that gave her permanent amnesia. “The Vow” follows the same formula, Paige (Rachel McAdams) and Leo (Channing Tatum) are a happily married couple on their way home on a snowy night when they get rear ended at a stop sign. Paige, who isn’t wearing her seatbelt, goes through the windshield. She wakes up in the hospital to find that the last four years of her life have been wiped away. She no longer remembers Leo, her falling out with her family or her budding career as an artist. Unfortunately, Paige does remember her previous fiancée and is at a current point in her memory where they were still dating.

Just because “The Vow” is quite obviously a Nicholas Spark’s style romance tale, it doesn’t mean that it has to be a bad film. But director Michael Sucsy cut it real close. There is one thing that saves “The Vow” from being truly horrible: Channing Tatum.

Normally Rachel McAdams would be carrying a film like this, considering Channing Tatum’s hardest role up to this point was “Dear John”. Usually Tatum is strictly there for eye candy, and he does spend a good amount of time with his shirt off, but his earnestness and care for Paige was real and heartfelt. Judging by the 50 grown women and little girls crying in the theater I would say this is an accurate statement.

If Tatum carries the film, then everyone else drags it down. At one point, Leo yells at a stubborn and annoying Paige, “I’m trying to help you!” If only you could Leo. If only you could. Instead of focusing on the doting husband trying to recover his life with his wife and best friend, the audience is treated to stupid backstories with ex-boyfriends and extremely messed up families. Above all, the film makes some extremely poor dialogue choices. McAdams seems to just be phoning it in; if Tatum decided to leave her no one would be able to blame him. Every other character is just as forgettable as Paige’s memory.

“The Vow” isn’t as good as the true story it’s based on. It’s heartwarming most times but something was missed. The dating scenes are very cute and well filmed but where is the love? Where is the ‘til death do us part? Only Tatum seemed to find that answer and thank god or else there would be some very disappointed moviegoers this Valentine’s Day.

1.5 out of 4 stars
 
-Christopher O'Connell