Paige (Rachel McAdams) and Leo (Channing Tatum) are the jammed-down-our-throat-sappy-sweet married couple. So much so that when a car crash puts her into a coma we almost welcome the tragedy to add some conflict to the storyline.
It’s continually referred to in the movie as “the moment of Impact” and this moment of impact apparently changes one’s life at any given moment and continues to torture us for two full hours. When Paige wakes up, she has no idea who Leo is as her brain has swelling that can cause mood swings or memory loss. In her case, Paige can only remember life up until a certain point and that’s when she took the wrong road, left her fiancée Jeremy (Scott Speedman) and left law school, too. That’s’ where she’s emotionally and mentally stuck.
The problem with the film – and there’s so many – is that the movie would have been more interesting if Leo and Paige were arguing before the fateful accident. Instead, what we have is a man whose demeanor is too agreeable and easy-going. Whereas, the moment we meet the ex fiancée, Jeremy, we love their apparent chemistry, his bark and his spark.
The one person who does steal a conflict-ridden scene is Jessica Lange as Paige’s mother who comes to terms with her daughter regarding a family secret and the mother’s heart-felt reasons for what led her to these choices.
McAdams returns to the Notebook-style material that put her on the map. Considering that’s a good thing – since the movie’s only message here is that you are what you are… and who you are at the very core of you, even if you don’t remember who that person is. The sad part about this film is it’s just another one of those annual sappy Valentine’s flicks. The sadder part is they want to toot it by being sure we know it’s based on a true story. As though that might make a difference. One and half tiaras