Clearly a film for romantics, THE VOW - as the title implies - is about commitment. The vow that Leo (Channing Tatum) makes to Paige (Rachel McAdams) when they get married in front of a handful of close friends in an art gallery (without the gallery's permission) is made of words he has written himself. They are sweet and sincere - and binding.

Their life is shattered by a silly car accident. If it weren't for the fact that the film is based on a true story, it would be hard to believe that Paige could remember her family and her ex boyfriend - and forget her husband. But that's in part what makes the story a story: it's a quirk of fate as delivered by accident and in defiance of medical science.

McAdams makes Paige real, full of the doubts and insecurities her character goes through in the emotionally complex journey. Tatum plays a romantic lead like a teddy bear; soft and cuddly. He is quite convincing as the loving husband who does everything he can to resettle his wife into their loving routine. Sam Neill does a contained turn as the narrow minded lawyer dad and Jessica Lange shines as Paige's mother, with deeply buried pain that she reveals in a moving scene.

Set and shot in Chicago over several seasons, the film looks fresh and manages to convey authentic people, situations and dilemmas. It's not really cinematic in scale, but it is made with heart and emotionally it should please the target audience of young women - and romantic young men.[EDITED]


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