Safe Haven, a movie based on the novel written by Nicholas Sparks, is a love story portraying a fearful young woman, who escapes a highly abusive relationship only to find refuge in a small town on her way to Atlanta, and a handsome grief stricken widow.
The movie begins with an action packed suspenseful opening which led us to believe that this movie was a far reach from a Nicolas Sparks romance.
While settling in this desolate town, Katie (Julianne Hough) keeps a safe distance from the small town community as she attempts to make her ransacked shack a home deep in the woods. In her travels, she meets her neighbour and grade-school teacher Lexi (Mimi Kirkland).
Katie’s life of privacy and secrecy is short lived when the handsome general store owner and widow Alex (Josh Duhamel) sets his eyes on the beautiful stranger. Alex’s daughter brings a sparkle to Katie’s eye, while his son keeps a safe distance away from this beautiful stranger. Alas, the romance begins with the exchange of a bike and a little push from Lexi to move on with her life.
Safe Haven has a good mix of suspense and romance for a Valentine’s Day release that includes a mysterious police investigation, a murderer on the loose, and a budding courtship between two torn souls.
Sparks fans be warned that the movie is nothing like the book. (But when is it ever?) Much like the characters portrayed in the film, Save Haven’s story line is predictable and bland with a much needed twist at the end that will have viewers shocked.
Safe Haven is a film that I would rent opposed to spending a night out at the movies.
I rate it 6/10.
