The Vow

What better timing than the weekend before Valentine’s Day for an absolute tear jerker romance movie – not a romcom fellas – full Romaans happening in this one. It seems that the movie is based on a series of true events. Which makes things even better for the viewer. There will be I can assure you, several “Awwww” moments throughout the 2 hours that you will spend watching The Vow.

Paige Thornton (Rachel McAdams) comes from an exceptionally affluent family. Father Bill Thornton (Sam Neill) is a lawyer and mother Rita Thornton (Jessica Lange) is a socialite, housewife etc. Why would she then consider to be in a relationship with someone who is just about middle class, works at a flower shop, has a passion for music and hopes to have a recording studio someday and lives in something that can only be called a warehouse. The guy is Leo (Channing Tatum) who wins over Paige’s heart through simple sincerity. All this happened 5 years back when Paige was studying Art at the Chicago School and had moved out of a relationship and her parent’s place for reasons not revealed in detail to Leo. She is just enamoured by the absolute honest display of affection that Leo showers on her and within a year, they are hitched. What gets the twist in the story though is an accident that leaves Paige in a coma. When she does recover after a while, she has forgotten everything in the past 5 years. Her last memory is being engaged to Jeremy (Scott Speedman). Of course, Leo doesn’t exist.

The Vow tries to capture the emotions and trauma that a husband goes through because the love of his life, suddenly, has no place for him at all. In Paige’s defence, she is going through as much pain struggling to come to terms with the fact that she is indeed married to Leo but simply has no clue to how it happened. The Vow shows you both sides of the coin during the time frame of the movie. One would be faced with a stance for both parties but really, is it fair to blame one and support the other in a situation like this? Tough call eh? Now imagine that it really happened with someone and is not a work of fiction. Hope and pray that none of us have to go through it.

Cannot say much about Michael Sucsy as a director. Loads of ways he could have focused a little more on. Lots of attention given to the conflict between the love birds. Very little attention given on the time after Paige decides to stay with Leo eventually. Maybe a few minutes there wouldn’t have hurt. Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum both disappoint with their less than intense performances. The intensity does go up at times but these are far and few between. Overall, must watch with someone you love. You can choose to download it instead of going to the theatre though. 6 on 10.

Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi236559897/