Shane’s Movie Review: ‘Safe Haven’

Any new movie that has been derived from a novel by Nicholas Sparks, author of the all-time go-to romantic film of the last decade The Notebook, among other similarly themed tear jerkers, is destined to be another instant excuse for a girls’ night out.

It also helps when the two leads are eye candy of the highest order. Irrepressible Josh Duhamel (Win a Date with Tad Hamilton) only has to blink to make the ladies swoon, while Julianne Hough (Rock of Ages, Footloose) is a natural beauty brimming with talent.

Katie (Hough) is mysterious woman who suddenly appears in Southport, part of small town Carolina where everyone knows everyone, so her arrival prompts people to talk. Determined to leave a nasty secret behind to begin fresh, Katie draws the unwanted attention of one particular handsome widowed father of two, Alex (Duhamel), who owns the local general store. She also makes tentative friends with her outspoken observant neighbor. Getting around incognito isn’t easy for such a gorgeous individual and while her internal conflict is a clear set up for absolute disaster, everything seems okay for now.

Defying semantics, true love is on the verge. Succumbing to the chivalrous advances of Alex, the unthinkable happens, Katie actually begins to fall positively head over heels, and more importantly he earns her trust.

The sweet disposition of the pair match, once solid barriers go down while drawing a healing process to their individual circumstances. Awakened sensitivities run passionately hot; unfortunately her alleviated misery is only temporary. Safe Haven becomes an oxymoron, it’s anything but. An abusive individual from her dark past locates Katie, with vengeful aggression on his mind, truths are told, the town gets involved and tension reaches a boiling point.

Without saying anything else, just be prepared with a handful of tissues to wipe away those streaming tears flowing across the cheeks of all audience members with a soft spot for yearning.

Music, as always in this genre, plays a role in itself, from bopping tunes prompting spontaneous dancing to more somber ballads running deep into the heart.

Josh and Julianne have satisfying chemistry; friendship and growth help make them click in a screenplay with way too many scenery shots of trees blowing in the wind replacing human activity. Australian co-star David Lyons is good, maybe too realistic in let’s just say, a harsh role as………….. I can’t tell you.

Just see Save Haven as the surprise ending is a welcome distraction.

Director Lasse Hallstrom knows his way around emotional captivity on celluloid, keeping Kleenex in business with gems such as Chocolat, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and the magnificent but criminally under seen, Once Around.

Most males may need to negotiate another movie as this is really just an unashamedly polished, torrid romance for the chick-flick crowd.

Safe Haven hits theaters Valentine’s Day – February 14th.

Shane A. Bassett is a contributor for TheYoungFolks.com. Read more about him on our Partners & Contributors page.