Surprisingly entertaining...

Dear John is something that I didn't think would be THAT good. It just seemed like one of those soppy romantic war films that I would say took a lot from romantic war films like Atonement and Gone With The Wind. When I saw it, it was actually quite a good film. I mean, yeah, it had its soppy, crap moments but the plot was very good and I was taken away by some of the characters especially John's dad. It was a moving film that I would compare to Titanic (not comparing events that happen, mostly on about feelings towards drama). What I mean by this, yeah it is a sad film but not tear-jerking or jaw dropping worthy like Titanic.


Dear John tells the story of John Tyree (Channing Tatum) who is a young soldier from the Army Special Forces who falls in love with Savannah Lynn Curtis (Amanda Seyfried). John lives with his dad who has always been obsessed with his coins and hasn't really been a father to John due to this and Savannah thinks that he might be autistic like her neighbour's young son. Savannah is a college student on spring break. and during this break, she falls in love with John. When they are apart, they decide to exchange letters to each other and because of this, their lives are changed forever. I was thinking that Channing Tatum is a bit like the two dickheads from the Twilight films but his performance in this film as John was actually good and very moving. I really got into the character when I really underestimated him to start off with. Amanda Seyfried made a name of herself in 2008 summer blockbuster Mamma Mia! and now she stars in something different and delivers a very moving performance. E.T. star Henry Thomas was very good as Tim Wheddon.


Lasse Hallstrom has made a couple of great dramas in the past like Chocolat, The Cider House Rules and What's Eating Gilbert Grape? but I have to say that Dear John is another good drama that he has done. Hallstrom perhaps tries to make Dear John like how Joe Wright made Atonement and that cannot be replaced but to be fair, it wasn't a bad effort. The film may not have had been a major success critically but I think it is one that I think people should at least attempt to watch.


Overall, Dear John is a decent romantic war film that I did like. It is nothing major, it does take a lot from other romantic war films. Nevertheless a good piece of entertainment that could melt the hearts of its audiences.

7/10