Dir. Michael Sucsy, USA/Brazil/France/ Australia/UK/ Germany, 2012, 104 mins.
Cast: Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, Jessica Lange, Sam Neill
Review by Carlie Newman
Although it starts out like the usual type of rom-com, this film develops quite soon into a different genre altogether. Perhaps because it is “inspired by true events”, it has a real vein of truth running through it.
In the opening scenes we meet a young married couple, who are obviously happily very much in love with each other, as they set off in their car on a very snowy night. As they stop to spoon, their stationary car is knocked into from behind and while Leo (Channing Tatum) is alright, Paige (Rachel McAdams) suffers a very bad head injury, which makes her lose all memory of the last five years and her relationship with Leo.
With a voice-over by Leo, we flash back four years to the start of the couple’s relationship. We see them fall in love and marry using their own vows. Back to the present where Paige wakes up after the crash and doesn’t recognise Leo at all. She remembers the time before she met him and believes that she is still studying at law school, living with her parents and engaged to good-looking business man, Jeremy (Scott Speedman). Her parents (Jessica Lange and Sam Neill) are pleased to welcome back the old Paige, from whom they have been estranged for some while (we learn why some time later).
Leo is very anxious when he sees Paige look at Jeremy with admiration and her husband with bewilderment. He tries to interest Paige in the things she used to enjoy – her art work, her studio and their old life together, but seems to have no success in making his wife fall in love with him again. He battles on for some while and courts her afresh, believing that the vow he made to her on their wedding day must be kept. When he still has no success, he despairs of ever winning her again.
Set in Chicago, director Michael Sucsy has show an appreciation of the city in various seasons and the city itself forms a good background to the story. Neill plays the father as a man who cares deeply for his daughter but is keener on getting her back into the family and confirming to his idea of what her life should be like rather than allowing her to re-discover her old life, where she was truly content.
The film will work or not work for you depending on whether you can believe in the couple as a romantic pair. While McAdams is charming in the scenes of Paige’s early days with her future husband. Tatum finds it harder to show his romantic nature and the fact that he is best known for action roles makes it difficult to accept him in a romantic guise.
- posted on 24/05/2012 00:25:44
