'Safe Haven' - It's Nicolas Sparks. Nuff said.
I think my previous post established that I am an old softy and I love romance movies. So let's get that right off the table; I am not the typical guy who is opposed to 'chick-flicks'! In fact, I like them more than some 'chicks' that I know! That being said, 'Safe Haven' is a chick-flick best viewed without much thought. If you start thinking about some of the absolutely ludicrous plot twists, the movie will lose you very quickly. But, it is a Nicolas Sparks movie after all and one does not go into it expecting to ask questions, rather, one goes into a Sparks movie expecting a schmaltzy. predictable and melodramatic 90 minutes or so. Now there are exceptions to the rule of Sparks and 'The Notebook' is one of them!
I was looking forward to 'Safe Haven' as it was directed by Lasse Hallstrom, one of the most recent accomplished directors of romantic films such as 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen' and 'Chocolat'; if you have not seen either of these, I would recommend rushing right out to grab them! With 'Safe Haven' though, Hallstrom and stars Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel are saddled with a very weak script that is burdened by some of the most terrible pacing I have ever seen. It's as if Nicolas Sparks along with co-screenwriter Dana Stevens had no confidence in their source material, which I am sure was sufficiently filled with powerful imagery as most Sparks novels are want to do (although I confess, I haven't read it).
The story starts out interesting enough as we see a young woman (Julianne Hough) running through the streets visibly shaken and traumatized. After a quick pack job (tossing only a few items into what seems to be a pillowcase), she is at the local bus station heading out of town barely avoiding the police who seem to be chasing her.
The bus makes a short stop at a small town in North Carolina where the woman begins to introduce herself as Katie. A chance meeting with the owner of the convenience store, Alex (Josh Duhamel) convinces Katie that she needs to stay here. Or at least I thought it was meeting Alex that did that, to be honest, I am not really sure. From here, Katie is able to secure a job (simply by walking up the to the restaurant owner and asking) and a house! Now, bear in mind, she left with a PILLOWCASE. So, in case you are keeping track, she is able to secure a job, secure a house, all with what we assume is an assumed name and literally no money or clothes. But then again, this is a Nicolas Sparks movie; remember how I started this, try not to think too much!
From there, the story flows right into the boy meets girl basic framework that is the cornerstone of all Sparks movies. We learn that Alex is a widower with two young children; we begin to see flashbacks of Katie's past that includes the police officer intent on tracking her down. Katie makes friends and becomes an accepted part of the community. This is the story the filmmakers should have stuck with! As we watch Katie settle in, become close to Alex and develop a relationship with his children (who, by the way were terrific little actors, especially Mimi Kirkland, the youngest), we are caught up in the romance of the film and it works. As soon as the film begins to veer off into 'Fatal Attraction' and 'Paranormal Activity' territory, it simply just loses it's appeal.
Julianne Hough, while no Anne Hathaway, is cast well as the tormented Katie. Her doughy eyes and almost childlike innocence help to make you fall in love with her. While I doubt she will ever rise much above these types of movies, she is perfectly suited for them and will have a bright career in this direction. Josh Duhamel is just hunky enough and perfectly sentimental enough to fill the role of the widower Alex. Last seen in 'Transformers', I thought Duhamel was going to be the next action star, but I can see a good future for him as a Nicolas Sparks mainstay in future films. Both actors are likable and have a strong chemistry on-screen. It was just a shame they didn't have more to work with.
As a date night film, 'Safe Haven' is a 2 star passable evening. Just try to not put too much thought into it!