Weekly Review -- Love on the run

Safe Haven (2013) -- One does not watch a film like Safe Haven, based on schmaltzmeister Nicholas Sparks' novel, for game-changing thrills. I thought I would give it a chance, since I had heard about some ingenuous story twists and because I occasionally like lighthearted fare. The verdict? Watchable, but far from captivating.

**THIS REVIEW CONTAINS HUGE SPOILERS**

Katie (Julianne Hough) settles in Southport, North Carolina after a violent incident. Soon she starts a relationship with local shop owner Ryan (Josh Duhamel) and a friendship with a neighbor (Cobie Smulders). With every second of every day, however, the past threatens to catch up. Can Katie reconcile her past with her future?

While the problem with Safe Haven is -- as expected -- its sheer predictability, the film takes it a step further. We do not expect too much innovation from a story like this one, but we do not expect a copy of a better film, either. With the exception of a few aspects, Safe Haven mirrors Sleeping with the Enemy to a T. Sure, this piece focuses more on the loved up presence than the tumultuous past, but the two are still remarkably similar. Resourceful protagonist, abusive husband, dewy-eyed lover, friendly small town -- they are all here. There were moments when I was shaking my head, knowing that I had already seen the events unfolding on screen. Even director Lasse Hallström, who gave us the wonderful Chocolat and the underrated An Unfinished Life, gets lost in the replica. As for the twists, they seem to be typical Sparks. This quality might not be so bad if they did not appear tacked on, as though they were there to remind us that we are not watching Enemy. These elements make me fail to see the point of the film. I do not know if the novel is any different, but I certainly hope so, since the 1991 thriller is also based on one.

There are so many plot holes, it is difficult to count them all. How can Kevin utilize police resources for false pretenses and not get caught immediately? Does no one notice Katie's mug shot in the police precinct until Ryan comes along? The biggest one, though, has to be a moment in a sequence toward the end. After Katie finishes talking to Kevin and before the fire starts, she does not take Ryan's daughter and run, like we logically expect her to do. Why on Earth not? What is she waiting for? It is an absurd turn, particularly considering that she is deathly afraid of Kevin and is aware of how dangerous and irrational he can be.

The performances are definitely not what makes the film. Hough does a decent job, with her stand-out scenes showing Katie left to her own devices. While her craft needs fine-tuning, she is capable of portraying vulnerability through a kind of innocence and is an appealing presence. As for Duhamel, I have never considered him to be charismatic enough to be a leading man. He is an okay performer and is likeable enough, but barely offers any substance. The pair do have a chemistry, but no fervor in their connection. David Lyons does little of worth as the husband, his performance bringing forth yet another inevitable Sleeping with the Enemy comparison. While Patrick Bergin found complex layers in a controlling monster hiding behind a charm facade, Lyons merely sulks and skulks, breaking things and whining around. His character is not menacing, but irritating, and one cannot wait for the story to get rid of him.

Safe Haven is a film that one picks out to watch on a rainy day, with no expectations and with no other cinematic choices. You will not love it, but you will not dislike it, either; you will only want to move on. Just make sure to watch Sleeping with the Enemy, if you have not seen it already. While not perfect, it is a far superior thriller, with a much more believable romance and an expertly fleshed out villain.

5/10