The Vow (2012)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Everett J

  
  *** "The Vow" is one of those "love conquers all" type chick flicks. Newlyweds Paige(Rachel McAdams) and Leo(Channing Tatum) are sitting at a stop light,when a truck plows into them. Leo is fine, but Paige has suffered some brain damage and can't remember… More
  *** "The Vow" is one of those "love conquers all" type chick flicks. Newlyweds Paige(Rachel McAdams) and Leo(Channing Tatum) are sitting at a stop light,when a truck plows into them. Leo is fine, but Paige has suffered some brain damage and can't remember anything from the past five years. Forgetting her relationship with Leo all together, he tries to figure out ways to help her remember, or fall in love with him again. I expected this to be "notebook" meets "50 first dates",and in some ways it is. But really, its just a good,sweet little drama,with enough heart and fluff to not be meladramtic. Adams is great,as she usually excels in romance movies. Tatum is just ok. He is a real movie star, but not a great actor. He's kind of one dimensional in dramas like this, but he does his best. Not saying I don't enjoy his movies, but I just don't think he's reached his potential. Women will love this(i'm pretty sure my wife loved it),and guys will either say 'meh that was ok". Or just skip it altogether. I think it's worth a watch,but in 5 years won't be remembered like "notebook" or "50 first dates".

• Tired of P

  
  Question: Have you ever lied to a friend about why you saw a movie? I have. In fact, I told a little fib recently on why I saw The Vow in order to avoid some teasing. My friend asked if I was viewing the movie just for reviewing purposes and not because I wanted to. My response:… More
  Question: Have you ever lied to a friend about why you saw a movie? I have. In fact, I told a little fib recently on why I saw The Vow in order to avoid some teasing. My friend asked if I was viewing the movie just for reviewing purposes and not because I wanted to. My response: "I sacrifice for you all". Such a lie... Bottom line: I am a romantic through and through; and some days I need a sappy, overly-cliched chick-flick to remind me that love is all around in this cynical world that we live in. Is there anything wrong with that? I hope not. So, I am now confessing, slightly red-cheeked, to the world that I went and saw The Vow because I WANTED TO (There, I said it!). Plus, I have seen an awful lot of "guy" films lately. There are simply times when I need to remember I am a girl and I do like some girl things; and The Vow was the perfect reminder. I would like to apologize to the male population now: Channing Tatum's character is what we girls dream of - not the looks (or maybe some of you do) but it's his actions towards the woman he loves, in The Vow, that make us weak in the knees and we want you all to be just like that. High standards for you all, I know. Sorry, but that is the honest truth on what "we" desire out of love. And I must apologize to the female population for spilling our secret, but I just had to because we really need to come clean. The Vow is based on a true story of a young couple who fell in love, got married and started a wonderful life together. One night there was a car accident and the wife (Rachel McAdams) has a traumatic brain injury that erases her memory of the past five years - the years she met, fell in love and had a life with her husband (Channing Tatum). When he discovers she has no memory of him or their life together it hit me hard. He portrayed a man who was just struck where it truly hurt him the most, but he had to remain strong to help her recover, mentally and physically. Channing Tatum did a fantastic job in this role, and it surprised me at how believable his character was to me. I got sucked right into the story because of him. What happens with the rest of the story will remain a mystery because that is how I do things around here. However, I will tell you guys to check out a few things that might help you understand us gals a little bit better. Think of The Vow as a good training tool for you boys. I am not saying this film will solve the entire mystery of us girls, because even I don't get us some days...haha...but when it comes to romance we are all pretty similar in what we want - simplicity and honesty. Before memory loss: The box (and its contents) he gives her while she is at work. So freaking cute. The reaction he has about her work. That's when you know someone truly loves you. And in his vows, one word struck me and just adding it in made the vows perfect. After memory loss: His understanding, patience and desire to take care of her. His reaction when he takes her on their second first date. Precious. The willingness to allow his wife to be who she was, at any moment, even if it wasn't in his best interest. The greatest gift you could give anyone - allowing them to be themselves and not change them to fit your desires. I will say there were definitely some sappy parts that did not tug at my heart strings, although I did hear many people weeping in the movie theatre. For once I didn't turn into a puddle of mush in a romance film. That kind of shocked me. But all-in-all The Vow was a sweet romance that I hope can teach people an important lesson - allow the person you love to be who they are, no matter what. Directed by Michael Sucsy, Screen Gems, 2012 Starring:Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, Jessica Lange, Scott Speedman and Sam Neill. Genre: Drama, Romance. My favorite thing: Channing Tatum. My least favorite thing: That I didn't have a good cry. I do like having those moments in the theatre - it's cathartic for me but maybe next time. Rating: PG-13 Length: 104 Minutes Rating: 6 out of 10

• Manu G

  
  Inspired by a true story. Very good movie. Love it, a beautiful story and great acting, Channing Tatum has become a good actor. Rachael McAdams is perfect for this movie. The Vow is believable, and the fact that it is based on true events, make it even more heart warming. The movie… More
  Inspired by a true story. Very good movie. Love it, a beautiful story and great acting, Channing Tatum has become a good actor. Rachael McAdams is perfect for this movie. The Vow is believable, and the fact that it is based on true events, make it even more heart warming. The movie was great from start to finish. Leo and Paige are a couple who just got married. After an accident, Paige is left unconscious, and when she awakes she doesn't remember Leo. Her parents, whom she hasn't since she and Leo got together, come and visit her. She can't believe that she hasn't seen them for such a long time. Leo wants to bring her home with him but her parents want her to go with them. She goes with Leo but when she doesn't recognize anything, she goes to her parents. And she wonders why did she cut off contact with her family. She also runs into her ex and wonders why they broke up. Leo tries to win her back by courting her again.

• Film C

  
  There's not a lot to this movie, yes its sweet and cute especially the way 'Leo' fought for the one he loved. It your a sucker for Love stories and like amenisia movies to add to the drama then you'll enjoy this movie. Other than that you can't really expect… More
  There's not a lot to this movie, yes its sweet and cute especially the way 'Leo' fought for the one he loved. It your a sucker for Love stories and like amenisia movies to add to the drama then you'll enjoy this movie. Other than that you can't really expect much, if anything its a mediocre love story regardless by the fact that its based on a true story. Sam Neill wasn't in this movie enough either so even more disappointed!

• Pedro H

  
  <i>The Vow</i> <b>I vow that this is a cute movie, and will not hate on it</b> The Vow is a <b>cute</b> romantic movie that is the perfect fit for a date. This is not the type of movie you would see alone, its the type of movie you take your date… More
  <i>The Vow</i> <b>I vow that this is a cute movie, and will not hate on it</b> The Vow is a <b>cute</b> romantic movie that is the perfect fit for a date. This is not the type of movie you would see alone, its the type of movie you take your date to. If under these conditions, I am pretty sure you might enjoy it. Paige (McAdams) suffers a car accident, and when she wakes up from her coma, she losses all her memories, inlcuding getting married to Leo (Tatum). It is up to Leo to try and get her heart back. It is overall a good movie. The acting is ok. The soundtrack is pleasing. But overall its just another one of those romantic movies we see so often nowadays. I recommend it if you are taking someone, but not if you are alone. Unless you really are, forever alone. <u>Leo:</u> <i>" Life's all about moments, of impact and how they changes our lives forever. But what if one day you could no longer remember any of them? "</i>

• Nicki M

  
  Nice movie based on a true story of a couple who are in a car accident, leading to the wife totally losing her memory of all the time they were together. For a sad story, this was actually quite romantic with all the flashbacks. Rachel McAdams, as always, lovely to watch here.… More
  Nice movie based on a true story of a couple who are in a car accident, leading to the wife totally losing her memory of all the time they were together. For a sad story, this was actually quite romantic with all the flashbacks. Rachel McAdams, as always, lovely to watch here. Channing Tatum is not the greatest actor and Scott Speedman runs rings around him for charisma, but they made a nice enough couple that you would hope to see them back together. Without saying too much, the ending, though not entirely ideal, was really sweet. This is quite a slow movie as it takes time to build the characters. I think it is really one for girls, I can't see a lot of men getting into it somehow.

• Alice S

  
  I have a soft spot for amnesia love stories, and this one is pretty decent. Channing Tatum is surprisingly light and funny in his mumbly, meathead way, "Can I at least give you an awkward hug?" The journey to "win Paige back" is maddening, difficult, and… More
  I have a soft spot for amnesia love stories, and this one is pretty decent. Channing Tatum is surprisingly light and funny in his mumbly, meathead way, "Can I at least give you an awkward hug?" The journey to "win Paige back" is maddening, difficult, and sacrificial (on Leo's part), and *spoiler* there is a good side-resolution involving Paige's mom's decision to stay with her cheating dad. The movie also doesn't end all Nicholas Sparks-ly (which I originally thought was the source material) in that Paige never does recover her memory.

• Liam G

  
  Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams have good chemistry on-screen and are surprisingly charming. This makes ''The Vow'' much more bearable than you may expect. My biggest problem with this film is its structure. The big accident in this film happens in the first 3… More
  Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams have good chemistry on-screen and are surprisingly charming. This makes ''The Vow'' much more bearable than you may expect. My biggest problem with this film is its structure. The big accident in this film happens in the first 3 minutes, just 2 minutes after we are introduced to the characters. This means that we can't care enough about these characters to feel their pain and frustration later in the film. As the film progresses, it wants to delve into some back story but it also wants to show us what happens to the characters after the accident. This means that by the end of the film, it has run out of steam. If we had been introduced to the characters when they first met and have the accident take place about 20 minutes into the film, it would have had much more impact. The script is fillled with romance clichà (C)s and the movie drags at times. Though the characters are fairly likeable, due to the actors' performances, but ''The Vow'' runs out of ideas early on, making it pretty mediocre.

• Markus R

  
  If you have seen the trailer, then you have seen the movie. I swear, the only purpose of films like "The Vow" are to make the rest of us guys look bad. Directed in ample fashion by Michael Sucsy (Grey Gardens) , but written by a trio of "B" rate romantic comedy… More
  If you have seen the trailer, then you have seen the movie. I swear, the only purpose of films like "The Vow" are to make the rest of us guys look bad. Directed in ample fashion by Michael Sucsy (Grey Gardens) , but written by a trio of "B" rate romantic comedy writers, including Abby Kohn (Valentine's Day), Marc Silverstein (He's Just Not That Into You) and Jason Katims, "The Vow" works not on the theory that "love conquers all", but on the lesser addressed notion of: good guys always finish last, but if they stay loyal (like dogs) they will eventually get the girl they want. The "The Vow", if you don't know by now, is about this fairly annoying couple (played by Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum). You know the type. The far too quirky couple who continuously acts as if they are perpetually in their honeymoon phase, in public. Anyways, this couple, who has been married for four years, is in a car crash where the wife, Paige, loses her memory. Well, she doesn't lose her memory entirely; just (conveniently) the memories that include her life with her husband, Leo. So, if Leo really loves Paige, he must work to make her fall in love with him all over again. I don't want to scoff at or downplay this lame premise too much because it is based on a true story, but COME ON! This sounds like a Nicholas Sparks story on steroids. And in fact if you are a fan of the lesser Nicolas Sparks film adaptations (The Last Song, Dear John), "The Vow" might be right up your alley. BUT still, there are some major issues here that may work to disappoint even the most fierce sappy-romantic film addicts. Because truth be told, the premise of "The Vow" is exponentially more interesting than anything the movie has to offer. Writing for men: Many instances in Hollywood films, there are writers that produce screenplays that contain poorly written female characters. In these cases, the woman will be more of a prop than an actual fully developed person. She will be a supporting, stand by your man, subservient character, whose sole purpose is to get the man where he needs to go. With "The Vow" just the opposite holds true. The film seems as if it were written by writers who don't know how to write for men. While the female cast is given characters that are more vibrant and have lively back-stories, Tatum is given a character that has little substance (if any at all) and can be only described only as "nice guy husband". This makes the Leo character so unrealistic, that his sweet gestures, which are meant to seem romantic, come off as phony. Furthermore, his character is so one dimensional and effeminate on many occasions (not to say guys can't be effeminate), that even the section of audience that bought a ticket just to see Tatum get the girl, will find his character tedious and undesirable at times. Final Thought: At the end of the day, this movie is what it is. If you are expecting romantic greatness then you've come to the wrong place, because most of "The Vow" is very love story paint-by-numbers. But if you are looking for a fluff-piece to get you though Valentine's Day, because your significant other forgot to plan a nice dinner, then "The Vow" may be what you are looking for. In a nutshell, the main reason why "The Vow" is a subpar romantic movie is simpler than just "the acting was bad" or "the dialogue was poorly written". In a nutshell, "The Vow" doesn't work simply because not for one minute was I invested in any of the characters on-screen. And that is the kiss of death for any romantic film. Written by Markus Robinson, Edited by Nicole I. Ashland Please visit my page on Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/x-52464-San-Jose-Indie-Movie-Examiner and leave any comments you have about this or any review. The more hits I get the better. Thank you. Follow me on Twitter @moviesmarkus

• Bradley W

  
  The Vow is not a romantic movie, its a tragic movie. This movie tries to pass off as a romantic film but the whole time I just pity these two people, real romance movies like The Notebook or Titanic were at least about two people in love, but these two people are trying to fall back… More
  The Vow is not a romantic movie, its a tragic movie. This movie tries to pass off as a romantic film but the whole time I just pity these two people, real romance movies like The Notebook or Titanic were at least about two people in love, but these two people are trying to fall back in love and that really depresses me in a way. I mean come on, we get to see two happy souls who fall in love and after her accident all they do is argue and bicker and we wonder if it is even a good thing if they stay together, like I said, that is not romantic, it's depressing. The characters however were what saved the film, they are such good hearted people except for a few jerks but the two main characters were really kind which was made it even harder to watch them go through all that pain and suffering. This film does have a few good things going for it, but overall it was a very depressing movie and a huge disappointment. The story follows a married couple, Paige (Rachel McAdams) and Leo (Channing Tatum), who suffers a tragedy after Paige, gets amnesia after a car accident. She only remembers a last memory from a couple years back when she was dating another man and this causes trouble for the married couple. Leo plans to win her heart all over again by trying to do everything he did the first time. The plot (like I said) was very depressing and made me feel sadder then happy to see them together. These are such good people and they spend most of their time crying and trying to live with a complete stranger rather than enjoy there company and learn to love again. I mean you have to be made of stone to not enjoy these characters because of how many few flaws they have but itÃÃ,¢(TM)s still just the way they tell the story with how she can't even remember her husband but she decides to live with him, how her parents are the clichà (C) parental jerks that you see in these movies, and how they have those stupid friends who give really crappy advice and are just really dull characters. Speaking of the characters, the only ones worth a watch are Paige and Leo mainly because they are the only ones having anything going on, nobody in this film besides them has anything interesting about them which is not a big complaint but I am just noting that don't expect to remember anyone besides them. Overall a very sad movie that is more drama hen romance (if this is what passes for romance). The cast stars two pretty big actors who are becoming some pretty big names in Hollywood. Rachel McAdams has impressed me with her roles such as Sherlock Holmes, The Notebook, and even Mean Girls and she can play a very good part. Here I can honestly say I enjoyed her acting once more, she has an innocence about her that made her tragedy much more able to understand and pity her more, and I can even say she and Taum have some chemistry but they story focuses too much on making them complete strangers. Channing Tatum is not a bad actor, he has proved that to me in Fighting and Public Enemies, and here he also is just a kind guy who loves this woman and he pulled it off very well, even if the director at times tries hard to make him a sex symbol. The other cast members are not even worth mentioning because they are not given a role important enough to even talk about, but I did enjoy these two stars. The Vow is that movie you will drag your boyfriend to or you are the boyfriend being dragged into watching it, and I cannot tell you what you will think but I can tell you it certainly will not be the romance movie you hoped for. Now if you want a sad movie, you need to check this out right away but you cannot make a trailer that looks so romantic and then give us a movie that is just an hour and forty minutes of depression. This is inspired by a true couple who went through something like this but I can tell you right now that it was most likely nothing like this. This has just some of those Hollywood romance moments that get girls to come and watch so they can gaze at Channing Tatum, which ruins this good actors career in a way since he is seen as a sex symbol. Just like Robert Patterson, Harry Potter and Water for Elephants showed me he is capable of some good acting but Twilight ruins it for him. This movie may be great for those who loved Dear John or The Holiday (two films I dislike) but as for me I will stick with romantic films that have an emotional payoff and still feel romantic. So overall do not see this I you are hoping for the next big romantic film of the year.

• Dannielle A

  
  "The Vow" is about true love and fighting for your marriage to work. Based on a true story, the story begins with a newlywed couple who gets in a car accident. After she wakes up from a coma, the wife has absolutely no idea who her husband is and he must strive to make her… More
  "The Vow" is about true love and fighting for your marriage to work. Based on a true story, the story begins with a newlywed couple who gets in a car accident. After she wakes up from a coma, the wife has absolutely no idea who her husband is and he must strive to make her fall in love with him all over again. McAdams and Tatum are charming and talented actors and played their parts very well. It was a heartwarming story that really tugs on ones heartstrings. The powerful, faithful love of the husband Leo was incredibly sweet and so romantic. Worth a look-see.

• Jeff B

  
  Swooning to it's own overly discordant melody, The Vow plays out like a bad Nicholas Sparks movie. The shocker? Sparks never even penned this dreck. It?s neither A Walk to Remember nor romantic lines in a Notebook nor a Dear John letter, but it feels eerily reminiscent of all… More
  Swooning to it's own overly discordant melody, The Vow plays out like a bad Nicholas Sparks movie. The shocker? Sparks never even penned this dreck. It?s neither A Walk to Remember nor romantic lines in a Notebook nor a Dear John letter, but it feels eerily reminiscent of all three in terms of tone, feel, and unambition. Watching this movie instead feels like Sparks spontaneously combusted and his ashes became this screenplay. Oh, it has a good enough premise...for a Lifetime Movie-of-the-Week starring Alyssa Milano. On the big screen, however, the whole amnesia plot point is as old hat as explaining away a whole unfortunately poor season of Dallas as a dream sequence, however thinly veiled on "real events." In this PG-13-rated drama supposedly based on a true story, a husband (Tatum) begins a difficult courtship with his wife (McAdams) after she loses any memory of their relationship in a car crash. At times, this reviewer thought that he was perhaps being a bit too harsh in regards to his disdain for this flick. After all, McAdams does a fine job of giving a deer-in-the-headlights look to the goings-on that have seemingly passed her by. And Tatum remembers his lines. It?s the arch plot point and wicked histrionics of McAdams? scheming parents (Sam Neill and Jessica Lange munching up the scenery like a box of chocolates) in the 3rd act that cemented this movie?s unappeal, however. It?s a one-note turn of events for a Valentine?s Day movie that vowed to be something more?namely intelligent. Bottom line: A walk to forget.

• Sol C

  
  The film was so so. Rachel McAdams shines in the film. The film needed a rewrite. Channing didn't seem to have a good on screen chemistry with Rachel. I think another actor in that role would have done a better job. I thought he was better here then in Dear John. Jessica Lange… More
  The film was so so. Rachel McAdams shines in the film. The film needed a rewrite. Channing didn't seem to have a good on screen chemistry with Rachel. I think another actor in that role would have done a better job. I thought he was better here then in Dear John. Jessica Lange and Sam Neil were ok in the film. Jessica reminded me of Gena Rowlands in the film. The film is worth checking out for Rachel McAdams.

• Jason V

  
  Sometimes a movie doesn't have to be exceptional or 4-star to be enjoyable. That's where I am on The Vow. Yes, a lot of events happen in very quick succession in the second half of the film for no apparent reason and with none of the background work they require.… More
  Sometimes a movie doesn't have to be exceptional or 4-star to be enjoyable. That's where I am on The Vow. Yes, a lot of events happen in very quick succession in the second half of the film for no apparent reason and with none of the background work they require. That's where my problems are: the end, not the beginning. The first half, for its part, does well enough setting up the characters and the problem; the second half fumbles all of it away. You do feel something for Channing Tatum's character, though, not because of his acting, but because of the story itself. This is a film about Rachel McAdams and she's the weak link, story wise. She never asks the right questions of the right people and accepts everything that is happening to her without much of a fight. The less said about Scott Speedman, Sam Neill and Jessica Lange...the better. Do I feel the need to ever watch The Vow again? Not really. Was it wasted time in the theater? No, I don't think so. All it needs are some relatively minor changes. Its heard is in the right place, which earns the films points. The execution-especially the way the ending is handled-is ham fisted and insulting.

• Bradley J

  
  Not completely horrible, but it had a surprising lack of romance. It could've had the potential to be a cute tear-jerker, but is familiar and not very entertaining. Tatum is ok, but McAdams is the saving grace as she gives emotion to her role. Otherwise, an all too standard… More
  Not completely horrible, but it had a surprising lack of romance. It could've had the potential to be a cute tear-jerker, but is familiar and not very entertaining. Tatum is ok, but McAdams is the saving grace as she gives emotion to her role. Otherwise, an all too standard romance drama. Overall Rating: 42

• Andreia C

  
  I'm disappointed with this movie. Yes it's sweet, but there wasn't much character development to make me care about the characters. It felt too long in some parts too. Such a shame, so much potential in cast and story. I was really disappointed.

• Christopher H

  
  In the world of sappy romantic films, you could do a lot worse than The Vow and for that it was enjoyable. The chemistry between Tatum and McAdams is strong enough to carry the film and few others actors could pull off the longing performance that Tatum brings to the table. Both of… More
  In the world of sappy romantic films, you could do a lot worse than The Vow and for that it was enjoyable. The chemistry between Tatum and McAdams is strong enough to carry the film and few others actors could pull off the longing performance that Tatum brings to the table. Both of these actors have experience with this sort of material and both have yet to disappoint.

• Philip P

  
  There is a certain caution with which you have to approach "The Vow". We know that it is going to be a sappy love story and that it is meant to induce tears and appreciation for the one you love in your own life. It is manufactured for the masses and is no doubt the perfect… More
  There is a certain caution with which you have to approach "The Vow". We know that it is going to be a sappy love story and that it is meant to induce tears and appreciation for the one you love in your own life. It is manufactured for the masses and is no doubt the perfect Valentine's date movie as that is the reason I saw it and the packed theater was full of couples old and young. There is nothing wrong with mass appeal, I actually get excited when I am allowed the chance to watch a new release with a large audience so I can gauge their reaction as compared to my own. Even with a movie I wasn't overly excited to see like "The Vow" it was still an opportunity to see how mainstream movie-goers would react to the latest in romantic drama's, a genre that since Rachel McAdams breakout film "The Notebook" has dipped in quality. I'll start by saying that it certainly wasn't as bad as you might have heard. Yes, it is a love story, but the premise is a touching sentiment and despite the trailer being the epitome of every romantic cliche the film as a whole is not actually as romantic as one might expect. It is based more around the honest struggle a man and woman in such a predicament might feel. The film has dressed up the two main characters as young liberals who are all about their art and contributions to that community, but all the extra stuff is just fluff. The core story the film tells is a sad, horrible situation that truly did turn out okay in the end. in some ways it is refreshing while in other ways it is almost regressive. That is shows glimpses of genuine care and love though is an accomplishment and for that I can't bash "The Vow". I'd feel bad about it. If you have seen the trailer for the film you essentially know what is going to happen, but that isn't to say the movie doesn't give you a few moments where you second guess the conclusion. There were a few times I actually thought it might go the way of no choice but to come to terms with the matter of fact circumstances that were the result of a car accident. It would have no doubt let the audience down and made them wonder whether the movie was even worth watching, but luckily for the makers of the film they can stick with their "inspired by true events" bit and rely on the fact that the couple this was based on are still together and happily married with two children. It at least gives it a little more credibility and lends a helping hand to the tone of the film. At first glance this feels as artificial as many other romantic comedies of late and on the surface, it is. We meet young college of the arts students Leo who is a guitar strumming, care free guy who wears a cool hat and Paige, the new girl at school who is looking to do what she always dreamed of. We aren't immediately given their history, rather we are shown how quickly and how deep they fall in love. It is charming and thanks to committed performances from both McAdams and Tatum this is more convincing than initially expected. It is quickly delved into where our two love birds are victims of weather and roads where they are rear-ended by a truck and sent to the hospital. In quick flashes we see highlights from the time they met to their impromptu wedding that you have to admit was pretty fun and original. Leo wakes up quick and doesn't have much to show for his injuries but Paige seems to have lost a portion of her memory, forgetting the last several years of her life and anything pertaining to Leo. While this is all rather dramatic and more than a writer could hope for when it comes to desperately romantic situations, what the movie does that I can get behind, that I can really commend it for is that it takes out that cynical view of love. We forget that this is a story easily turned into a cash cow to profit from the completely commercial holiday that is Valentine's day. Instead, there is such a genuine heart to the film that we don't see these characters as contrived versions of ourselves (despite their artsy yet profitable jobs/hobbies). What we do see is the stripped down basics of the human person, that he is in love with her and we are delivered all the reasons and moments why. Not only though does he love her, but he appreciates her, he laughs at her and he can't imagine experiencing his life without having her to share it with. The fact that all of this is threatened by a chance accident that brings into the picture Paige's estranged family who has never met Leo and with this kind of second chance try to regain her into the family. Sam Neill plays the judgmental and typical high society father that wants his daughter to follow in his footsteps by forcing her into law school. Jessica Lange is the mother who clearly misses her daughter and can only hope her memory doesn't return as to why she left for the city and a new life in the first place. It is once Paige is re-introduced to her old life, the only life she remembers, that the manipulation begins with the return of an old flame (Scott Speedman) and a mystery woman who clearly has something to do with Paige's life decisions. It is at once frustrating and depressing to see Leo go through what he has to in order to gain what is rightfully his, but depressing in that the writers found it necessary to keep piling on complications to heighten the situation. Their is enough tragedy in the fact she doesn't have a single memory of her husband. There is no need to saturate that with other factors, just give us the bear, raw meaning of love prevailing. There is a mixed bag of a reaction to "The Vow" and I am probably making this more difficult than it has to be, but this is a genre of film that has seen some of its landmark productions. In the "heyday" of Hollywood it was all about big, sweeping, romantic tales and now they have been relegated to generic half comedies that hardly resemble anything anyone really goes through when dealing with that all too complex emotion. "The Vow" at least attempts an honest interpretation of what that emotion when felt between two equals can mean, and it also strives to show why, if you are lucky enough to find a partner that compliments you, that you should not take them for granted. It has hints of greatness in moments like Paige asking for things that run much deeper in Leo's mind than she could ever imagine and her, caring enough to want to try and give him what she knows once existed. It is billed as a story of making this married couple go through the process of falling in love again, but what this really ends up being is a man fighting for a woman that doesn't know him. There were times I would get annoyed with the characters, especially Paige and her apprehensions, but I can only imagine being in her position. I have to give it up to Channing as well, I have never thought of him as a good actor. He is wooden in most things and is only there as eye candy. We better get used to him though as he is set to be in everything this year. He gives one of his best performances as Leo though and gives us a real person to hang on to as we are guided through this mostly contrived set-up with a pure heart and determination. This isn't all bad and certainly isn't the worst romantic drama you could see, but I'd still rather watch "Crazy Stupid Love" for the fifth time than see this again.

• Brett W

  
  The giant, anthropomorphic ham known as Channing Tatum continues to con women around the world into believing he is a film actor. This time he stars in "The Vow" another gimmicky, schlock-smeared tear-jerker-romance where love conquers all. Women will weep and their… More
  The giant, anthropomorphic ham known as Channing Tatum continues to con women around the world into believing he is a film actor. This time he stars in "The Vow" another gimmicky, schlock-smeared tear-jerker-romance where love conquers all. Women will weep and their boyfriends will cheat on on them during restroom breaks. Because a story like this is only romantic and heartwarming if the lead characters are young and sexy.

• Daisy M

  
  Directed by director Michael Sucsy, The Vow tried very hard to be the romantic love story that will emotionally hit hard on the viewer. Well, I was not sure if it truly succeeded, but it also did not disappoint that much.The reason I wanted to see The Vow was for Rachel McAdams who… More
  Directed by director Michael Sucsy, The Vow tried very hard to be the romantic love story that will emotionally hit hard on the viewer. Well, I was not sure if it truly succeeded, but it also did not disappoint that much.The reason I wanted to see The Vow was for Rachel McAdams who played Paige and Channing Tatum (Leo) who was not bad at all. So I might love this one, as I loved The Notebook. I liked this one but just didn't love it. There were a few things about the film that I didn't like. To start with the beginning felt rushed. After the accident, a memory loss Paige was in the hospital and in the next scene she was up and walking around as nothing happened.Some more romance was missing as well as Leo's efforts to win back Paige's heart. I would have liked to see more of Leo's efforts in helping Paige regain her memories of their life together and not as much time spent on her family trying to make up for things they did wrong. Throughout the film there were some romantic scenes between Leo and Paige that convincingly showed their love, but unfortunately, it was not enough of them. If you love these kind of Romantic love stories, then you can not miss this one.

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