Safe Haven (2013) Movie Review

SAFE HAVEN (2013) MOVIE REVIEW

Even with relatively strong advertising going for it, this movie just couldn't live up to it's "hype". Many people are starting to call this movie the "First Chick Flick of the Year", this statement is completely true.

The story revolves around a mysterious woman named Katie (Julianne Hough) tries to run away from her clouded past. She finds solitude in Southport, North Carolina where she then forms a relationship with a widower Alex (Josh Duhamel). But in order to keep this and other relationships going, like the one involving her new friend/neighbour Jo (Cobie Smulders), she will need to eventually confront her past and open up to it. Whilst in some parts this plot seems original, just the whole "dark past" aspect seems to be a running trend with alot of romance movies these days, or at least with the ones that I have seen. Although not to be to harsh, the story seemed a little dull at times and too predictable (especially with the ending). 

Within the first 30-40 mins of the movie, I easily became bored with this movie and actually began to yawn. This was not because of the movie, but with how long it dragged on and ran for. These types of movies should only run for around 1 and a half hours. Safe Haven ran at least 30 mins longer than it needed to be. Whilst on the topic of time, the movie didn't really pick up until the last 30-20 mins, when she confronts them about her past (Spoiler even though they said that in the overview of the movie). 

I was actually expecting this movie to have a really corny and over the top script, but I was very surprised that they made a fully flushed out script that actually made you care what happened to a certain character. Besides this, there is not really anymore that needs to be said about the script. It's fine, nothing spectacular and defiantly nothing bad.

Here is where I was really surprised. The acting in this movie was quite admirable. Many people had confronted me about Julianne Hough's amazing performance  as also, I disregarded these comments. To my surprise, they were right. She was easily the best thing about this movie and made you actually care about her. Special regards should also be made out to the two leading men, Josh Duhamel who played a perfect guy with an imperfect life and David Lyons who plays a detective slowly cracking trying to find Katie. The acting was really great, and easily the best all year (considering that this the first movie I've seen that has come out this year).

Before the final rating, it must be put out there that I do not hate this film and I don't like it either. Perhaps I should have given this movie more of a chance, but considering this is advertised as a "chick flick", it's kind of hard not to. 

RATING: 5.5/10