In this world, life isn’t always kind and gentle. Sometimes, life likes to play a little hardball. But when it all gets to be too much to handle, at least Nicholas Sparks has provided an escape route into a romance where everyone is attractive, the pouring rain is just Mother Nature motivating couples to make out and life is always joyful.
“Safe Haven,” the eighth film adaption of a Nicholas Sparks novel, is a romantic thriller that will leave girls believing that anything is possible. After watching this movie, guys may even begin to believe that they too can rescue pretty damsels in distress.
In the opening scene, Katie Feldman (Julianne Hough) is seen running from a policeman. We do not know exactly why she is running, but the movie suggests she may have killed someone. However, you do not see enough of the body to determine their identity or condition.
Katie hurriedly boards a bus and impulsively gets off in quaint Southport, N.C. hoping for a clean slate from her mysterious past. She finds a waitressing job, befriends her neighbor, Jo (Cobie Smulders) and meets handsome Alex Wheatley (Josh Duhamel), who is a widowed father of two precious children.
Although Katie can be tense at times, she gradually relaxes and has a little fun with Alex and his kids. Meanwhile, detective Kevin Tierney (David Lyons) is busy trying to discover Katie’s whereabouts, which leaves the audience in suspense. Through flashbacks, we also later find out the entire story of Katie’s past and begin to understand her character a little more.
I am generally not the stereotypical girl who loves to watch a sappy romance, but with the suspense that was thrown into the plot, I was completely sold. I felt as if Katie and Alex were my friends and I just wanted to see them have a happy ending together.
Although “Safe Haven” can be credited as another great Nicholas Sparks romance, the ending was not expected at all. The supernatural ending ruined the illusion of reality the movie had going and left me thinking, “Come on now. Let’s get real.”
Regardless, if anyone has not seen the movie, especially girls, I would highly recommend it. And guys, if your girlfriend wants to see “Safe Haven,” just take her. You will earn brownie points and I am sure you will find yourself on the edge of your seat as well.
