The Vow Review

It's difficult to hate a movie about such nice people. That's the way I felt throughout much of The Vow, starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum. Being 2012's early date-night go-to choice, The Vow brings in all the familiar love themes and ideas, while also creating characters (even the bad ones) that are difficult to find flaws in, for most of the movie at least. Paige (McAdams), an art student in Chicago, loses her memory in a car accident one night. She wakes up to discover a husband (Tatum) she doesn't know, and a life she hasn't dreamed about since she was in high school. In her mind, she still lives with her parents and is engaged to Jeremy (Scott Speedman). She tries going back to her life with her husband Leo, but can't shake the fact that she feels she needs to be at home with her parents. Leo struggles with convincing her otherwise. Tears are shed. Inanimate objects are thrown and punched. People argue, and find each other.

To say that The Vow borrows a lot from movies like The Notebook is a far understatement. However, the film tries its hardest to shy away from the conventions of love stories; yet it finds itself magnetizing to these themes towards its final act. Many of the characters, although their motivations do not match that of Leo's, find themselves becoming the bare minimum of their characters as the film reaches its conclusion. Despite it being an easy way to create the conclusion the film is looking for, it makes for a frustrating final few moments, when the way the characters were written is whisked away at the betterment of the overall story.

I couldn't help also but shake the thought that this is the type of film that would be difficult happening in today's society to two people in their 20's. Yes, the film is "inspired" by true events, but in this age of technology and social media, it seems far-fetched that a young girl wouldn't have a Facebook or Twitter account that she could access to view the years of her life that she can't remember. I can imagine Mark Zuckerberg watching this movie screaming, "You see why I created Timeline, people?!"

I must say that I was impressed with the performances of the cast, particularly Channing Tatum. Despite taking movies that have labeled him as nothing more than a pretty face, here Tatum shows some real range in his acting chops, yet also solidifies himself as a romantic comedy heartthrob for years. McAdams, always up for a romance movie, does a fine job as the amnesiac. 

So, The Vow may not be a timeless love movie that will forever be a Valentine's Day staple, but it is hardly the type of junk Hollywood has been recently shelling out in order to make a few bucks from guys looking for something to do with their girlfriends for a date-night. In short, the movie is tolerable. While not grounded in total reality, The Vow makes for a mostly enjoyable two hours. 

B-/C+