Review of Safe Haven (2013) by Orlando O — 11 May 2013

Safe Haven is an another Nicholas Sparks novels, and being one of the okay romantic drama films than his previous stories. Katie (Julianne Hough) runs away from home after her alcoholic husband Kevin (David Lyons) physically abused her.

She hides out into a quiet little town in North Carolina. She meets a widow Alex ( Josh Duhamel) a owner of a small convenience store and will eventually fall for him. While her past with the abusive husband will soon catch up to her.

The story of the movie was okay as it does try to become a little more realistic involving domestic abuse, and trying to move on after grief of a loss one. Especially for a Nicholas Spark story which always are predictable but Safe Haven is a better one that does have a emotional impact with the characters.

Josh Duhamel did try to give a emotional performance of a father trying to move on from grief. Julianne Hough did okay with her role, and her chemistry with Duhamel was perfect. Although, the writing of the movie with the characters felt flat, and undeveloped to the part with Duhamel and Hough characters feeling rushed when they start to have feelings for each other.

The direction of the movie felt a little mixed on how it was trying to portray a domestic abuse drama with a side of a romance story; Lasse Hallstrom could have put more effort into his direction of the movies tone while the end results of Safe Haven looked more like a straight to tv Lifetime channel movie.

Overall, Safe Haven was an okay film that tries to portray a story about losing someone, and overcoming domestic partner abuse.