The Vow

Even though it's based on a true incident in which a woman suffered memory loss as the result of a brain trauma, filmmaker Michael Sucsy's romantic melodrama comes across as pure female wish-fulfillment fantasy. As the story begins, Paige (Rachel McAdams) and Leo (Channing Tatum) are enjoying an evening out in Chicago, but it's snowing, the roads are slippery, and a dump truck plows into their car, sending Paige through the windshield and into the emergency room. When she awakens, Paige doesn't recognize Leo and has no memory of their four years together, including her studies at the Art Institute. Their North Side loft is unfamiliar, her sculpture studio is bewildering, and their bohemian friends seem like strangers. Curiously, Paige is able to relate more to her uptight, controlling parents (Jessica Lange, Sam Neill) from whom she was previously estranged, so she moves back into their posh suburban home. Paige is now also more comfortable drinking blueberry mojitos with her old high-school classmates, even flirting with her torch-carrying ex-fiancé, Jeremy (Scott Speedman), whom she'd dumped five years ago when she dropped out of law school. Determined to woo and win her all over again, devoted Leo goes into courtship mode, reminding her how they'd met at the DMV, scribbled wedding vows on the back of a restaurant menu, etc. While McAdams dimples delightfully and chiseled Tatum oozes earnestness, The Vow drowns in heart-tugging, tear-jerking, syrupy sentiment. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Michael Sucsy, deleted scenes (6 min.), a gag reel (3 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are three “making-of” featurettes, as well as bonus DVD and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a disappointing film.] (S. Granger)