Review of film: “DEAR JOHN”

2010-, 02-01:

Review of film:  “DEAR JOHN”

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers:

Jamie Linden (screenplay)

Nicholas Sparks (novel)

Starring:

Channing Tatum

Amanda Seyfried

Richard Jenkins

Henry Thomas

D.J. Cotrona

Cullen Moss

Gavin McCulley

Jose Lucena Jr.

Keith Robinson

Scott Porter

Leslea Fisher

William Howard Bowman

David Andrews

Mary Rachel Dudley

Bryce Hayes

Braeden Reed

Luke Benward

MPAA Rating:

Rated PG-13 for some sensuality and violence.

Quotes:

“I’m no longer in perfect condition.”

“I’m not his type.”

“Long stretches of boring.”

“You might be TOO GOOD a person for me.”

“Doesn’t drink, smoke or sleep around.”

“…  to fall in love with you.”

“Don’t ever tell me I DON’T understand.”

“You’re all that matters to me.”

 “I’m sorry for how [it happened]…”

“You take good care of him.”

“She still loves you.”

“I’ll see you SOON then…”

MY Rating:

8 of 10 stars (based on an advance screening of the 105-minute film).

Will John feel “DEAR” if the Letter brings a TEAR?…

Relationships are seldom “easy”, & this story chronicles that fact…  John Tyree (CHANNING TATUM) is an Army Special Forces soldier who’s been hurt on a mission and keeps thinking of falling COINS for some reason…

…  During a 2-week leave, he happily surfs in the ocean around North Carolina, & chances to meet Savannah Curtis (AMANDA SEYFRIED) when he retrieves her purse that a male friend of hers (Randy, played by SCOTT PORTER) has caused to fall in the ocean...  In part to thank Chan (& to get to know him better), she invites him to a party at her family’s nearby oceanfront home…

…  Channing is sort of shy & initially not very talkative, but he is gracious when introduced to Amanda’s bearded friend Tim Wheddon (HENRY THOMAS --  yes, “THAT” Henry, who played Elliot in 1982’s “E.T.”!) & his autistic son Alan (BRAEDEN REED as the 6-year old, & then LUKE BENWARD at 14)…  Amanda senses a bunch of good elements in Channing, & works to spend time with him… 

…  Somewhat reluctantly, Chan invites Amanda to meet his father (RICHARD JENKINS).  He’s hesitant because his Dad is somewhat “strange”, with difficulty socializing & obsessively living his life on a rigid “schedule” (such as making only the same food for meals on certain days of each week:  Sunday is “lasagna” day, etc.)…

…  But, Amanda comfortably works to ENCOURAGE his Dad to open up, showing a special interest in the COIN collection which is his main interest in life.  Chan is surprised that his Dad warms to her, showing his favorite coin, a 1978 nickel “mule” (error coin) that was discovered by Chan when he was a kid…

…  At one point, Amanda reveals to Chan that she has a goal of being a SPECIAL EDUCATION teacher & opening a “Camp Horse Sense” for autistic kids like Alan--  & very much shocks him by a statement she makes about something she suspects concerning his dad (which he’d never fully realized)… 

…  She and Chan grow ever closer, & he tells her he plans to marry her when he completes his Army service in a year, & urges her to WRITE to him regularly in the service…

 …  The movie shifts to scenes of Chan in his sometimes-dangerous Special Forces work around the world (in Africa, the Mideast, Asia, etc.)…  Numerous “Dear John” LETTERS arrive from Amanda, & he eagerly saves them all & writes BACK to her at every opportunity…

…  A setback arrives in their lives when the 9/11 tragedy occurs:  while Chan very much wants to return to Amanda, his Army buddies such as Noodles (D.J. COTRONA) & Dan “Rooster” Rooney (CULLEN MOSS) want to RE-ENLIST & EXTEND their tours of duty, & Chan struggles with whether or not to join his pals in that plan...

…  Although Chan & Amanda get together on a leave back home, he in time makes clear he feels duty-bound to JOIN his buddies in re-enlisting to fight the “bad guys” (as characterized by Emperor George the Inept in his Mission “Phony Baloney” in Iraq, etc.)… 

…  That action does NOT “set” well with Amanda, & her letters start becoming FEWER & FEWER to him…  In time, after 2 or so months with no communication from her, he finally receives one more letter, that comes across as the stereotypical “slang” type of a “Dear John” example.  Her words SHOCK & upset him deeply… 

…  Has Amanda LEFT Chan for another, &, if so, for WHO?…  What will happen to his DAD?…  What will become of Chan, since it’s clear he’s been SHOT by some enemies in combat?…  Will Chan & Amanda ever get back TOGETHER, &, if so, under what CIRCUMSTANCES?… Will the COINS play a role in the development of the tale?…

…  There are a number of “TWISTS” in the story, & it’s pragmatically handled (although the very end struck me and a friend as overly “ABRUPT”, which lowered my overall rating a bit unless there’s a “SEQUEL” upcoming)… 

…  Channing & Amanda do an unusually GOOD job as a slowly-blooming couple, & other main characters add to the overall effectiveness of what is probably likely to be considered as a “CHICK flick” overall.

[  NOTE:  You can easily  SHARE  this Posting with your friends or family by sending them an automatic e-Mail LINK via clicking on the “M” button in the lower left-hand corner under “VOICE OF SILENCE” below...  ]


 

  (o_
   /\ 

= = =         …  ( <>  ^  <> )  ...