There is a point where we begin to experience fatigue over a film using the whole “based/inspired on true events” tag for marketing. We have reached such a point, and do we care anymore? I don’t want to say it’s that we no longer care anymore per se. I think it’s more that we just don’t pay attention. Very little films being released since the turn of the century have been thought up by screenwriters alone. Many films recently have had the extra push from a novel or real-life event.
In the case of The Vow, we are supposed to be impressed that the film does have real-life counterparts. However, to attach specific individuals to this Valentine’s Day-gram is not necessary. After I got out of the movie, I was in a store where my reusable-popcorn-bucket-handling self was asked what movie I had seen. Upon my mother’s response guilt couldn’t help but crop up inside me. Yes, m’am, I fell for the concocted mush of a romance film during the supposed-most romantic weekend of the year; and yes, I don’t care that the lovebirds’ tale could have been seen on a 60 Minutes segment. After telling her the movie title, the cashier proceeded to tell us that her brother’s friend had in fact experienced a collapse that resulted in a demagnetized memory, save only his parents. Although the segue between the film and the credits tells us of the specific couple the film is based upon, the events in The Vow are obviously not exclusive to the couple. I’m not saying that such a tragic fugue is commonplace, but why couldn’t they have chosen to make a film on that kind lady in William-Sonoma’s brother’s friend? Also, telling us that the film is “inspired by true events” is an attempt to lure people to see the movie. Judging by the army of teenage girls I found myself surrounded by in the theater, the tagline wasn’t the only thing drawing people to The Vow.
Young married couple Leo and Paige (Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams, respectively) are enjoying their care free lives in a fun Chicago neighborhood. However, their lives are shook forever one snowy evening after a car accident wipes away Paige’s memory. Now Leo must try his best to make his wife fall in love with him again. Leo also has to deal with Paige’s estranged parents (Sam Neill and Jessica Lange) and an ex-fiancĂ© (Scott Speedman) who try to rewrite the past.
I’m not his target demographic, but I don’t understand Channing Tatum. Although I enjoyed his performance in last year’s The Eagle, Tatum’s only got half of what it takes to front a down and droopy romance. The former Abercrombie model’s got the looks (not really), but when it comes to swooning with words or emotions, Tatum struggles. Sure, we feel sorry for Leo. But the preppy ghosts of Paige’s past make that easy for him. There’s Speedman’s Jeremy, slimy as an eel. Then we have his partners in-crime, a stereotypical stuffy dad and Jessica Lange, who might even be more frightening in this than as American Horror Story‘s psycho next door. Unfortunately though, the only level on Tatum’s phaser is sickening sweet. Also, let’s face it, Channing Tatum is out of place in a group of earthy Chicagoan hipsters. No amount of plaid and vinyl can help you out, bro. Miscast.
Then there’s McAdams who makes The Vow not totally irrelevant. McAdams’ infectious down-to-earth charm, something everyone else in the film seems to be missing, seems to be one of the few aspects of the drama that weren’t showcased in the trailer. The others are a tasteless elaboration of the accident scene that was clearly inspired by crash test dummy videos, and yes, ladies, Channing Tatum in all of his full-behind glory. And yes, everyone else who is not so easily tricked, they pulled that card.
Even the most cynic of anti-romancees must come to terms with the reality that as long as there are movies, there will be so-called “chick flicks”. However, some such films tend to forget about reality, which is what makes some better than others. Despite being taken from someone’s reality, The Vow is airbrushed attempted-pearly-perfection sap all while being in the same vein as a Nicholas Sparks creation. The lesson to be learned here is that Tatum and McAdams need new agents to handle their casting, for different reasons of course. Despite being more durable at this time of year, what with Cupid’s arrows and assorted chocolates flying everywhere, The Vow is best viewed with a selective memory the morning after.