Retro: The Vow

THE VOW

"Based on true events" has never felt so unrealistic.

2012: Screen Gems

2012, Drama/Romance, Rated PG-13

Distributed by Screen Gems

          The Vow is a silly little movie with a silly little plot that tries to be sad, funny, and romantic but succeeds on none of those fronts. The story is allegedly based on true events. What is true about this tale is that a married couple was in a car crash and the woman woke up unable to remember her marriage or any of her life with her husband because of severe amnesia. They stuck it out, though, and are now happily married with two kids. Everything that happens in between, as portrayed in The Vow, is totally fictional and cliched beyond belief. 

          The movie opens with the car crash. All we know about Leo, played by Channing Tatum, and Paige, played by Rachel McAdams, is what we learned in the trailer which pretty much gave the entire plot away. In my Chronicle review I pointed out how annoying it is when characters react to events unrealistically. Every single line in this movie is delivered simply to push the plot forward. All the major plot points are so coincidental, so perfect for melodrama. Paige just happens to be a completely different woman from the one she was five years ago. She left law school, ditched her fiance, and even shunned her family all the time she was with Leo. The family especially is so obnoxiously cliche, it's almost unbearable to watch them interact with the down-to-Earth Leo. Whatever happened to Sam Niell, anyway? First Daybreakers and now The Vow? What ever happened to JP4?

          One interesting aspect of the film is the character of Jeremy, Paige's ex-fiance, played by Scott Speedman. You assume he will go for Paige now that she thinks she is still in love with him after dumping him years ago, but no. When she shoves her married tongue down his throat, he backs away, claiming he has a girlfriend. The only scene that was not totally predictable was when that lizard Jeremy tells Leo about the kiss. Good drama unfolds. Leo should have punched him harder.

          Rachel McAdams doesn't impress anyone with her acting in this movie but she isn't given much to work with. Her previous life, the one she thinks is her current life, is so bogged down in cliches, its believability can barely stay afloat no matter how she plays it. She also never accepts responsibility. No one in the film treats this unique situation with the care and attention it would actually deserve. Did her family really think Leo would just walk away? That's how everyone acts, but it's not realistic. Channing Tatum does an okay job, not his best, but with a script like The Vow's, what can we expect?

          The twist/big reveal at the end is pretty random but does beg for a second viewing with the knowledge of the reason Paige abandoned her family. It makes certain odd lines spoken throughout have real meaning. Like when Leo says to Paige's father "You're such a coward." It doesn't make any sense unless you know why he's calling him a coward.

          The ending is not so predictable after a barrage of scenes that are. And they really killed it by choosing The Cure's "Pictures of You" as the final song. Great choice. It left me on a positive note.

          Side note: Even though I said the ending begs a second viewing, the movie itself begs no viewings. Unless you adore every word that comes out of the main actors' mouths, or like looking at them half-clothed, well, I guess you should watch it. I don't recommend it, though. There are plenty of great romantic dramas out there and this isn't one of them.