Surprisingly enough, there is much to be said about “The Vow”, the latest movie from writer Abby Kohn (Valentines Day & Never Been Kissed) and it isn’t bad. Is the screenplay outstanding? No. It isn’t. In fact, it’s pretty typical romantic movie fair. Despite the fact that the movie starts and ends with a note that says it is based on actual events and shows a picture of the couple that inspired the movie, the movie could have very easily fallen into soap opera lala-land. It doesn’t though, for many reasons.
First off, a quick explanation of the film and why it could have been, but wasn’t, silly. The movie starts off with Leo, played by Channing Tatum (Dear John, Step Up) and Paige, played by Rachel McAdams (The Notebook, Morning Glory), leaving a movie theatre, smiling and enjoying a beautiful snowy night and they are obviously very much in love. Little do they know, they are about to walk into a situation that will change their lives forever. Moments later, they are both wheeled into an emergency room and Leo’s injuries are far less severe than Paige’s. When Paige recovers or awakes, days later, she has no memory of Leo or the fact that they are married and truly in love. This is where it could have been very soap opera, but instead, the movie is very real. We experience the dilemmas that both characters are facing and the director and writer handle it capably.
What truly makes “The Vow” a movie that will stand the test of time though, is the chemistry between McAdams and Tatum. The two of them are fantastic at portraying the unique bond that they have. Their relationship is truly unique and as the movie flashes back to their life and shows how they met, how they courted, how they got married and you know that they belong together. This isn’t scripting. This is acting, because as the coin flips, both actors take that very same love they feel for each other and become strangers with different personalities.
I’m not sure that the movie could have been written any differently, but the story is a little bit cliché’ and done before, but hasn’t it all by now. What truly makes “The Vow” a standout film is the performances by Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams. They prove that they are both stars to be recognized with in Hollywood and that they both know how to take an audience and shape them like putty in their hands. I think McAdams was always good at that and Tatum is getting better.
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