The Vow: Review By kiion

Amnesia is a plot point that is used a lot in many different films. It is an easy way to start narratives, used sometimes for comedic effect, but at its strongest it is a plot device that tugs on the audience members heartstrings. In 'The Vow', the amnesia is used for the latter reason, and through this it enables itself to make a real emotional grab onto the viewers and as such allows for a much more realistic approach in the way that it showcases this illness. With 'Inspired by True Events' inscribed on all marketing for the film, 'The Vow' tells the story of two people who initially fall in love, but broken by a catastrophe with the need to rebuild it in such a way that those who enjoy romantic films will love this film, and even those who dislike the genre will find enough human emotion throughout that will allow them to also find some enjoyment.

Paige, Rachel McAdams, a sculpture artist and Leo, Channing Tatum, a music producer, are a young couple who are madly in love and married. On the way home one snowy day in Chicago, they are rear ended by a lorry, leaving Paige with serious head injuries and in a comatose state. When she awakens however, she no longer remembers anything from 5 years before her accident, therefore not seeing Leo as her husband any more. With the emotional struggle that comes with these types of accidents, Leo decides that he will spend the amount of time needed to prove that their love is real and still there, believing that she has fallen for him once before she can do it again. The plot revolves around him trying to win her love back.

Sprinkled throughout the film are other plot lines, including revelations that Paige's Dad had an affair with a childhood friend, an old flame returning from the past to cause disruption and the film also outlines a flashback sequence that explains the way and situation that had the two title characters falling in love the first time. As this film is of the romance genre, a lot of the focus is on relationships in general and love, and through this, the willingness to keep going to win back those who are meant to be with each other. It is a film that asks the question, how far would you go to get back the person you love? As this is the main focus, this film has a very heartwarming and emotional narrative, that works on so many levels and has great depth.

Channing Tatum is a surprisingly strong actor in this film. He plays the character in such a way that the audience is able to draw into comparisons to what is being undertaken on screen. For an actor that is used a lot in action genre movies in such a way, shows the talent that this actor has on carrying an emotional plot. Rachel McAdams also portrays her character strongly, showing the fact that the role is that of someone who cannot remember anything in such a strong and meaningful manner. The frailty that a person within this situation would feel, is shown throughout her performance and as such brings into effect the true strength that this film tries to produce in its narrative. They are supported by big name actors too; Scott Speedman and Sam Neil being the actors that stand out the most.

'The Vow' is a movie that is not perfect, but one that does not try to be something it isn't. With two really strong actor performances and a plot that is highly realistic, it enables this film to be easy to become attached too. With a non expected finale and end sequence, the film will have many wanting more, easily needing an extra half hour of narrative. This is a romance film that non-romance fans will also enjoy however, and this is the films main strength.