The Vow:
Heart-tugging teaser
Ruwini JAYAWARDANA
Channing Tatum as Leo and Rachel McAdams as Paige
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In his big screen feature debut, The Vow Michael Sucsy deals with a
bittersweet amnesia story which seems to be Nicholas Sparks’ The
Notebook and ‘The Wedding’ rolled into one.
Based on a true story this is an achingly romantic tale of Leo, a
young man who tries to woo back his young wife, Paige. The opening
scenes project the two newlyweds emerging from an old cinema on an
enchanting, showy night and getting rammed from behind by a truck. The
accident leaves Paige flying through a windshield and in hospital,
fighting for her life. While on her bedside Leo recalls their first
meeting and the screen zooms to a flashback. Thought there is noting
special about the romance, viewers are drawn towards the fun-filled
scenes of how the lovebirds marry in a in a gallery of the Art Institute
of Chicago where Paige is a student and are being chased out by the
guards who were unaware that such an event is taking place.
Back in the present, peace is shattered when Paige’s long-absent
parents enter the scene. They fuss around her and use Paige’s memory
loss as an excuse to bring her back into their lives.
Paige remembers details about her life before Leo from studying law
to her favourite eating habits. Her amnesia has a heartbreaking effect
on Leo but proves to be a trump card for her parents who are hiding an
ugly secret behind her back. This pull of the past sends her back into
her family’s arms and Leo is made to look like the odd one out of the
lot. Yet the isolated scenes unveil to the viewers how much Leo
struggles with his emotions while keeping Paige’s interests at heart.
Leo and Paige at their wedding |
At times the ‘I need to make my wife fall in love with me again’
theme of the movie reminds you of Sparks’ well loved novel The Wedding
because both deal with the emotional side of the man rather than the
woman. They project that though guys do not openly express their
feelings, they too undergo trauma in matters connected with the heart.
The movie’s screenplay is no masterpiece. Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein
and director Sucsy should have worked on the script to keep the roles
balanced and the scenes in place but the lead pair makes it an appealing
picture to watch.
Despite his macho appearance, Channing Tatum manages to stir up
emotions in the viewers as the hopelessly romantic Leo. This time he
manages to pull off the act which he failed in 2010’s Dear John. His
performance is as convincing and good as the vow Leo has made to his
ladylove.
Rachel McAdams is the real star of The Vow. She charms all with her
curious yet fearful glances, projecting the look of a lost kitten.
Between the two they manage to set the screen alight with chemistry so
that one almost wonders how Paige could possibly imagine herself to
still be in love with her high school crush, Jeremy, rather than Leo.
The Vow is one of those rare movies which manages to capture the good
old sensation of what it is to actually like ro be in love. All else
matters when lovers are together and though the path maybe long, their
love will conquer all obstacles. |