Review: Maroon 5’s “Won’t Go Home Without You” Music Video

Rating: 3.3 out of 5

        This video starts out with the band playing in a set made of solid concrete on all sides except for the front as the lead singer, Adam Levine, flashes back to memories of an ex-lover. Later, it evolves into an elaborate walking scene featuring Levine navigating though several interesting and unusual situations and eventually reaching the restaurant she is at only to discover that she is with another man. He walks off feeling discouraged, and after he leaves the girl turns her head to glance at where he used to be, but he his no longer there.

        This was an interesting music video, however I felt it could have been much better. Here are a few of my pros and cons about the film:

·                              Pros:

o   Good shot selection: Some of the scenes were set up brilliantly. For example:

§  The opening scene with the full band in the concrete room

§  When Adam first walks into the alley after exiting the concrete room

§  The restaurant scene when he spots his ex with another man

§  The last scene when she turns around to look in that direction, but he is not there

o   Good acting: The feelings appeared pretty genuine between Levine and his “ex-lover” as shown by their facial shots

o   Interesting transfer from black and white to color scenes

§  Helped set the mood for the video

·                              Cons:

o   Not a great storyline

§  Started off good, but got semi-confusing in the walking scenes especially when Adam appears to get ambushed by a clown, a Chinese Dragon, families taking photos, etc.

·      Not too sure, but perhaps the point of these side scenes was to show how he can get distracted from her but he won’t ever “go home without her”

·      Either way, there has to be a better way of showing this

In conclusion, I think this was an interesting video that I will still watch occasionally, however it will not make my “best video” list anytime soon. I have been quite impressed with Maroon 5 music videos in the past, and I admire the shot selection and use of flashbacks in this film, but am a bit put off by the meandering plot. Overall, I would have to give this video a rating of 3.3 out of 5.

            Johnny G