Ed's Review Dot Com

Nicholas Sparks Productions , Relativity Media , Temple Hill Entertainment,

Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, Cobie Smulders, David Lyons, Noah Lomax, Red West, Ric Reitz, Cullen Moss, Mimi Kirkland

Katie (Juianne Hough) is a young woman on the run. Hunted by police from Boston, she hops a bus and rides toward Atlanta. At a 15 minute stop in a little village on the coast of North Carolina, she gets off the bus, and stays behind. Southport is her Safe Haven, where she can try to blend in and disappear. But fate has more in store for her as she develops two close relationships. First, a young widower named Alex (Josh Duhamel) and his two children, a boy and a girl. The second relationship is with a young single woman living down the road from her named Jo (Cobie Smulders) who is dark and mysterious, yet doesn’t pry into Katie’s story and is a good friend when she needs one. Filled with romance, heavy drama, and suspense, this Nicholas Sparks novel (same guy who wrote The Notebook, a somewhat similar type romance story) this movie will keep you interested from start to the surprising end.

My wife an I were anxious for an evening out a the movies, but we just missed the movie we wanted to see. We decided since it’s a Friday night, to catch a different movie. We decided on Safe Haven because neither of us though Julianne Hough could act (ex. Rock of Ages), and we were curious to see what she could do with a decent novel. Well, we were really surprised. Josh DUhamel was really good as a sensitive, single dad, struggling to get over the death of his wife, and keep his children safe and sane. Julianne came in with an excellent performance as both the troubled fugitive on the lam, as the detached woman, trying not to get close to anyone, who can’t help being swept away by Alex’s charm. The scenery is breathtaking in this beautiful North Carolina seashore town, and the story is really good. The surprise ending probably isn’t necessary to the story, but doesn’t hurt. Now critics have (and will) blast this film as being too predictable and cheesy, but pay them no mind. They watch way too many movies and have gotten too jaded. Come into this one fresh, without prejudgements, and appreciate the beautiful story. I can name other movies that are very similar to this, but I won’t, as I don’t want to ruin the story, because if you go into it, like I did, without any knowledge of the plot, the suspense is really pretty good.

I think this guy is a hell of a writer, and this story did not disappoint me. I felt the casting was good, especially the kids, and the people were as friendly and charming as Southerners actually are. It was a chick flick, for sure, but one that is strong enough to keep me riveted to the screen from start to finish.

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