Dear John
(2010)A romance from the author of The Notebook and the director of Chocolat, starring Channing Tatum (Step Up) as John and Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia!) as Savannah. They are a couple in love, torn apart by John's duty to the US Army.... More
John is a young soldier home on leave and Savannah is an idealistic college student who he falls for during her spring vacation (he dives into the sea to retrieve her purse). Over the next seven tumultuous years, the couple is separated by John's increasingly dangerous deployments – culminating in America’s call-to-arms after 9/11. Whilst meeting only sporadically, they stay in touch by sending a continuous stream of love letters – correspondence that eventually triggers fateful consequences.Hide
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Directed by Lasse Hallström
Starring Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried, Richard Jenkins, Henry Thomas, D.J. Cotrona, Cullen Moss
Written by Jamie Linden, Nicholas Sparks (based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks)
On Demand, DVD & Blu-Ray
Available from 6 providers
Flicks Review
BY James Croot Flicks Writer
While there's no questioning writer Nicholas Sparks' ability to boost Kleenex sales, cinematic adaptations of his work have been somewhat of a mixed bag. Whilst Message in a Bottle showcased Kevin Costner at his best, A Walk to Remember was a film to forget (save Mandy Moore) and Nights in Rodanthe seemed like an eternity in purgatory. Now just weeks after a tuneless Miley Cyrus gave us her last song, we have this love letter to the US Army and paean to the lost art of letter writing.... More
Of course, there are some things you can always count on in a Sparks adaptation – sandy locations, star-crossed lovers and searing melodrama, all tied in a neat emotionally manipulative bow.
The script does a nice job of switching genders – despite what the trailer suggests, this is very much big-lug-of-the-week Tatum's (Step Up) film. He's the one with the anger issues, autistic father (an excellent Jenkins) and who boasts a mistress in the form of the military (amusing given his name, John Tyree, sounds almost exactly like a certain philandering English footballer).
Unfortunately that also means that the Winslet-lite Seyfried (Mamma Mia!) is left with an underwritten, too-perfect character that, like her Greek Abba-infused holiday, gives her little to do.Hide
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Dear John
Love the trailer. I have been trying to get tickets to this movie ever since I saw the add.
i think that if you like these type of movies then you will enjoy it. a helpful hint for all movies is expect the less and then the movie might seem to be good!
Really Ruined me Expectation of the movie, was looking forward to a great movie yet almost fell asleep.
Notebook was way better i say
after reading the books, this movie didnt disappoint, although there is a different ending. its very raw and emotional. Im a guy and im also in the army so i could easily relate. good alround film and good acting
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The Press Reviews
28%
of critics recommend.
Rotten Tomatoes Score. More reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Dear John exists only to coddle the sentiments of undemanding dreamers, and plunge us into a world where the only evil is the interruption of the good. Full Review
A touching melodrama illuminated by a solid turn from Tatum. Full Review
The film, while heartfelt and directed by multiple-Oscar nominee Lasse Hallstrom, is dramatically stillborn. Full Review
Dear John carefully distills selected elements of human experience and reduces them to a sweet and digestible syrup. It may not be strong medicine, but it delivers an effective, pleasing dose of pure sentiment and vicarious heartache. Full Review
Fans of The Notebook will forgive this film its flaws Full Review
Dear John, oh how I hate to write. But write I must, and here I go. Full Review
After the Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe and the Last Song, another Nicholas Sparks book makes its way to the big screen. Full Review
Ultimately, the story feels as if it's killing time before throwing the next hurdle at the couple. Full Review
Disappointing, badly written and ultimately empty drama that fails to engage on an emotional level and only escapes one star ignominy because of the chemistry and likeability of its two leads. Full Review
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