When people hear the word February, they automatically recall it as “the month when love is in the air”. This kind of mentality is caused by the rush of romantic films that premiere for the Valentine’s frenzy.
Following this kind of mentality, The Vow, directed by Michael Sucsy, depicts a heart-warming love story between two deeply passionate characters: Leo (Channing Tatum) and Paige (Rachel McAdams). But this film is no typical love story, due to the constant obstacles that result from an accident that leads Paige oblivious to all the memories she had spent with Leo. Despite these obstacles, these two have great chemistry that truly depicts the hardships faced with sincere love, and the price it pays.
Based on a true story, the movie starts off with Leo and Paige feeling bubbly after watching a movie together. Upon getting in their car, Paige and Leo get crushed by a truck from behind, completely demolishing the car.
Leo guides the audience to a flashback from four years ago when he recalls his first encounter with Paige, and their very first date. The two display their love at first sight, and the incessant affection he provided for her. After months, the two risk takers got married in a museum with the help of their friends.
Back in the present, Leo is standing alongside Paige, while she slowly regains her conscience. Paige appears anxious towards the nurse and Leo, and questions if anybody else was hurt in the accident. Leo becomes relieved that Paige seems to be in good condition, but this relief is cuts short when Paige doesn’t recall Leo as her husband. He faces an inner turmoil as he realizes how important moments of small impact can have in shaping people’s lives. But he sets off to never give-up and continues to attempt on jogging Paige’s memory.
Paige feels insecure around Leo because she does not recall any of the memories of loving him before, and sees him as a stranger. Through convincing coaxing, Leo gets Paige to decide to live with him for some time instead of with her parents, in order to easily regain her memory faster. He constantly tells himself that if Paige had deeply fell in love with him once, then she will love him a second time for who he is. But as time progresses, Paige helplessly breaks down and decides to live with her parents again because her memory was just not coming back. Heartbroken, Leo attempts to allow Paige happiness and security with whomever she desires, no matter how it will impact their relationship. Will Paige ever gain her memory back? And will she fall for Leo like she had loved him once before?
This bittersweet movie was a great depiction of the importance of perseverance in the struggle for what makes life worth living. Although there were too many melodramatic scenes in the romance movie, the apparent chemistry between the characters saved the film.
Personally, I feel as if the movie could have had less dramatic heartbreaking scenes, and more lighthearted blissful ones. After all, a romance movie should not make the audience feel like hugging a tissue box for the rest of the day but should make the viewers bubbly. But the movie was still extremely cute and praiseworthy due to the realistic acting. I would recommend this film to any couple that struggles in their relationships, or anyone looking for a cute romantic movie to watch when feeling lonely on a Valentine’s Day.
(4 stars out of 5)
