Review of Safe Haven (2013) by Keenan S — 22 Apr 2014

What. The. Actual. Fuck? I gave...Safe Haven...a Nicholas Sparks film...a 4/5 rating. Did I grow a vagina? *checks* No, everything is where it's supposed to be. How could this be? I have panned most of his films, including some of the more beloved ones like A Walk To Remember (I fucking hate that film. It is one of the dumbest, sappiest, cliched turds I have ever watched). Out his numerous films, I have only given three of them a pass (The other two being The Notebook and The Lucky One), but this one, despite being the worst-reviewed, is my personal favorite and earned an astonishing high mark from a guy who normally hates chick flicks and has bashed several of them.

I am honestly dumbstruck by how much I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I was ready to tear this one a new asshole like most of the other films based on his works, and it features a number of his usual annoying tropes. And yet, I couldn't hate it. I found myself engaged and I enjoyed the change of pace from the previous films by being darker, but it also has a sweet sentimentality to it that wouldn't let me dislike it even though it is drenched in syrup and schmaltz. It had all the makings of something I would find terrible, and yet, by some divine intervention (Or possible brain damage caused by watching After Earth just before it), I ended up really enjoying this film.

The plot is about a mysterious woman known as Kate who flees from police for reasons that are not determined for awhile to a small North Carolina town where she hopes to start a new life away from the hell she escaped from.

She gets a job as a waitress, moves into an old cabin, becomes friends with a strange female neighbor, and becomes acquainted with a store clerk named Alex, a widower with two children living with his father. At first, they simply share passing remarks and greetings, but soon a friendship develops between her and his children, then she becomes friends with him, and then finally, romance blossoms between them. You know, the usual stuff.

However, Kate's past threatens to tear apart her new found happiness and slowly it is revealed why she is really running and why the police are after her.

As much as I hate to admit it, I was engaged by the story in this film and how it explored Kate's past and revealed its dark secrets. Also, as cliched as it was, I found the romance to be rather heartwarming and charming in a way that I haven't felt since watching romance films in the 90's - namely the Meg Ryan variety. Normally, I only enjoy classic romance films or ones that are generally praised, but Safe Haven is a rare poorly reviewed romance that I thoroughly enjoyed that brought back a sense of giddy joy I feel when watching 90's romance films, but also with a thriller and supernatural twist thrown in for good measure to make things more interesting.

Also surprising is the acting, which I felt was quite good. The acting across the board was good, but my compliments really go out to Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough who have terrific chemistry and deliver great performances.

Still, the film isn't perfect, as I wish there was more development into Kate's past (Though, considering the dark themes, it probably would have gotten an R-rating if they delved deeper) and there are times when Sparks' cliches get in the way.

But, be that as it may, I have to begrudgingly admit (And, also risk losing my man card. Not even pulling the gay card will get me out of this one) that I really enjoyed Safe Haven and it is set to go down as one of my guilty pleasure chick flicks. The story is solid, the direction is great, the acting is great, and it has just the right mix of sentimentality, thriller, and supernatural to keep things interesting and intriguing. For me, Safe Haven is the best of the Nicholas Sparks films, and I think it is quite underrated.