Failing the arrival of The Notebook in 3D (please make that never happen!), here's the default date-night movie for Valentine's weekend. The Vow is a sopping hankie of a romance for women who love to suffer and the men who love them. Consider than a fair warning to those who'd rather will themselves into a coma than take The Vow. Luckily the film's stars, Rachel McAdams and the often shirtless Channing Tatum, are attractive distractions from a plot that's been marinated into girly glop.  A Chicago car accident leaves Paige (McAdams) with selective amnesia. She knows who she is, but has completely blanked on her devoted hubby Leo (Tatum) and their five years together. Result? Leo must persuade Paige to fall in love with him all over again. Now there's an insidious female fantasy that looks headed for box-office paydirt. The Vow is one of those "inspired by a true story" crocks that defy credulity at every turn. Director Michael Sucsy did a sharp job avoiding weepie quicksand with HBO's Grey Gardens, but the soap suds in The Vow drag him under. Leo sings Meat Loaf's "I'd Do Anything For Love" to please Paige. Crooning to the woman of your dreams seems a small price to pay compared to seeing The Vow. If asked, borrow another line from Mr. Loaf and sing, "but I won't do that."

Related
• Video: Peter Travers Reviews 'Rampart' and 'Chronicle' in This Week's 'At The Movies with Peter Travers'

“All Along the Watchtower”

Jimi Hendrix got hold of Bob Dylan's early John Wesley Harding tapes and in late 1967 recorded a version of "All Along the Watchtower" with the Experience in London. Dissatisfied with that first development, Hendrix brought those tapes with him to New York in early 1968 when he began work on Electric Ladyland. Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's engineer at the time, told Rolling Stone that Hendrix "was still looked upon by his basically white audience as the mammoth black guitar hero. There was a constant fight within him to expand himself." Hendrix's successful take on Dylan's work has long been recognized by the songwriter. "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way," Dylan wrote in the liner notes to his Biograph box set. "Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."