Southport stars in latest role

Well, I did it. I saw THE MOVIE this weekend.

Now, I’m no movie critic. In fact, the last time I sat in a movie theater was to see Disclosure,with Michael Douglas and Demi Moore, back in 1994. The last time I actually visited the Surf Cinema in Southport, the theater was called Sea Three Screens, and the movie was Crimes of the Heart, also filmed in Southport,The year was 1986.

I’m sorry, but I digress. Let’s get back to THE MOVIE.

THE MOVIE, of course, is SafeHaven, an adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ novel, set right here in my hometown,Southport – and filmed almost entirely in Southport during the summer of 2012. The movie stars Josh Duhamel as Alex, a Southport storekeeper raising two adorable, motherless kids  in the city’s Old Yacht Basin and Julianne Huff, as Katie, a good girl running from bad trouble and seeking refuge our quiet little seaside town. As you might suspect, the two meet, fall in love and work their way to a happy ending after some life-threatening moments involving fire and gun play.

There’s a plot twist near the end of the movie that will have you asking, “What did I just see?”

Like I said, I’m no movie critic, but Safe Haven has been nearly universally panned by professional critics and I think undeservedly so. Let’s face it: Safe Haven is not Gone With the Wind. It’s not Citizen Kane. It is undeniably light fare – a chick flick, a date movie. Safe Haven is a check-your-brain-at-the popcorn-stand-and-be-entertained kind of movie. And, against that measure, it succeeds.

That said, the star of Safe Haven in my book is the city of Southport itself. If it weren’t for the fact that I live in Southport, I’d want to visit here after seeing Safe Haven. The cinematography was gracious to Southport. The film opens with gorgeous aerial shots of the Southport riverfront, starting off shore of the River Drive area and moving south along the Cape Fear River coastline to the Old Yacht Basin and Alex’s general store.

The old-timey spirit of the Old Yacht Basin was beautifully captured on film and scenes from familiar places were great to watch. Locations made to look great in the movie included American Fish Company, Fishy Fishy and Wildlife Bait and Tackle.  Downtown starred in a parade scene and the Community Building and Cape Fear River served as a backdrop to a community dance. The really great thing about the movie that locals will appreciate is producers did not try to make Southport over into another mythical town.  The town remained Southport in the movie. The characters called it Southport.  It said Southport on the police cars and fire trucks. Northrup Mall stayed Northrup Mall. Alex and Katie went canoeing on Dutchman Creek and they called it Dutchman Creek. This alone made Safe Haven a comfortable watch for this Southport local.

I don’t know how Safe Haven will play in LA, New York, Houston or Chicago, but Southport folks were leaving the theater this weekend with two thumbs up.

Another Self Serving Real Estate plug: If, like Katie, you've stabbed your husband and want to seek refuge in a great little town, Southport is the place. Nearby Oak Island is great also.Why not give me a call  at 910-619-7207 and let me help you find just the right Safe haven, Or, even if you're just a normal person starting a well-deserved retirement, check me out at Atlantic Realty Professionals.