Review of Safe Haven (2013) by Hoops2448 — 22 Apr 2013

A Nicholas Sparks adaptation unlike most of the others in that it can be at least at times a powerful film with actual characters and you know, purpose. When Katie (Julianne Hough) flees her hometown and takes refuge from her past in Southport she meets single father Alex (Josh Duhamel) and begins a passionate relationship while her past begins to catch up to her in the form of detective Tierney (David Lyons).

Safe Haven is a decent love story that doesn't feel like the usual Nicholas Sparks drivel save for a final twist that almost derails the whole film. The film counts on Hough and she delivers a touching but hardened performance as a woman who has been through a brutal ordeal yet survived.

Her isolation, while short lived is the main problem with the film thriving through character interaction, the time she spends alone drags and because of her secrets she prefers seclusion. Duhamel seems unsure in the role but has good chemistry with Hough so the overall feel is still there.

The side characters are paper thin and take up valuable minutes of the film extending a picture with very little story. That's not to say its a simple film, in fact it tries to avoid being generic and formulaic although it only really avoids the latter.

The film lacks anything special to make it unique so it comes across as ordinary. The director, having adapted Sparks' Dear John knows how to handle the melodrama rife in Sparks' books and in a way its what makes Safe Haven so light and easy to watch but it also means a film about trust, betrayal, death and fear is about as dark as an episode of the Tellytubbies.

The film is so sweet at times its sickly and becomes nauseating. Overall the film is terrific in handling the characters and how they interact but it struggles and ultimately fails to surprise or impress upon the viewer any kind of originality.