Usually, reluctantly being dragged to a movie by a group of friends can turn out one of two ways: either the movie is pretty good; or, it is The Vow (or some equally horrendous example). The film, directed by Michael Sucsy and based on the true story of husband and wife Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, pulled $41.2 million at the box office in its opening weekend, but certainly leaves a lot to be desired. The Vow follows the tale of married couple Leo (Channing Tatum) and Paige Collins (Rachel McAdams). When Paige is severely injured in a car accident, she loses a chunk of her memory, including that of meeting, dating, and marrying Leo. Most of the film is comprised of Leoâs attempts to re-romance Paige, as well as deal with her family, whom he has never met until this point. While this seems like a unique, charming idea, the plot doesnât quite live up to the premise. While The Vow does have a couple of heartstring-tugging moments, the plot is disappointingly dull, especially in the middle parts. Paigeâs struggles and Leoâs depression and moodiness are the two monotonous constants, and most of the storyline is rather forgettable. The writing is typical of a mainstream romantic drama. Sweet, gushy, dime-a-dozen lines are delivered left and right, and the dialogue is predictable, excluding a few comedic quips here and there. The writing here might be The Vowâs primary downfall: despite the 2/3 dull plot, had the writing been improved, it couldâve actually been an interesting film. The one minor bright spot here is the fact that the acting isnât as atrocious as one might expect. The support does an average job of playing their roles, though they arenât amazing. And, though Tatum is by no means a spectacular actor, he works well with what he has, giving a decent (if, at times, melodramatic) performance. But itâs McAdams who really shines here. Having previously starred in The Notebook and The Time Travelerâs Wife, itâs clear that romances are her bread and butter. Her performance is convincing and compelling, and, while itâs not enough to save The Vow, it is its one memorable feature. The Vow probably couldâve been worse â but it also could have been a lot better. Nothing about the movie quite lives up to its potential. It does have its moments, and it could work well as a date movie or a romantic last resort. While this probably wonât be the worst movie youâll ever be dragged to, please donât go see The Vow of your own free will. Overall rating: 3/10 Jack H. Evans is the entertainment editor for The Bark. Follow The Bark on Twitter @BeardenBARK, and like The Bark (Bearden High School) on Facebook.