At this point Nicholas Sparks has written seventeen novels, with only eight of them having been adapted for the silver screen. In other words, those hoping Safe Haven will be the last one for awhile might want to just brace themselves for at least a decade more of soggy, emotionally manipulative, formulaic romances.
After releasing a batch of new photos just a couple of days ago, the first trailer for Safe Haven has been released. Basically it looks like every other Sparks adaptation, which will infuriate some and please plenty of others. Directed by Lasse Hallstrom, who also directed Sparks' Dear John, the film stars Julianne Hough as a woman with a mysterious past who turns up in a close-knit North Carolina community. Trying to keep to herself, she breaks out of her shell with the help of a hunky single dad played by Josh Duhamel, until her past begins to creep in to her new life. There aren't many surprised to be found here, and I don't think fans of Sparks' novels would want there to be any. I had totally forgotten that Hallstrom had directed The Cider House Rules and Chocolat, which goes to show how far he's sunk in my eyes that the only thing I associate him with are movies like this.
As terrible as this seems, with Cobie Smulders out-of-place and that cloying soundtrack, it will undoubtedly be another box office smash that women will be dragging their men to come February 8th. Conveniently just in time for Valentine's Day. Check out the trailer below....
