Dear John (D+ or 1.5/4 stars)
Nicholas Sparks is now well-known for writing sappy, romantic novels which eventually make their way to the big screen. Some are stinkers (A Walk to Remember, Nights in Rodanthe). And some are great (Message in a Bottle, The Notebook). Unfortunately, this latest adaptation, 'Dear John', falls into the stinker category. The movie begins quite well & sustains a high level of acting, character development, plotting, & craftsmanship for nearly an hour. The hook of the story is the budding romance btwn. Army Special Forces soldier John Tyree (Channing Tatum, Step Up, G.I. Joe) & good-girl college student Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried, Mean Girls, Mamma Mia). It is March of 2001, and while he is on short leave; staying with his estranged father (a great Richard Jenkins) ... she is visiting South Carolina for Spring Break (even building a house for Habitat for Humanity ... told ya, good-girl).
They hit it off after a chance encounter in the ocean turns into an instantaneous romance. By the time their unforgettable 2 weeks together are up (& he must go back to the army), they've met each other's families (she, particularly, makes an impression with John's high-functioning autistic father), & formed an unbreakable bond. Determined to continue their relationship, both agree to constantly write letters to each other until his overseas tour of duty is complete. However, 9/11 happens. John's dutily re-signs to the army. And so starts a series of Deus ex Machinas which barely propel the plot forward.
While I really enjoyed the 1st half of the film, the middle section struggles to keep us interested in their back & forth letters. Voice-overs do a lot of the work. The production team does a great job making their correspondence interesting from a visual standpoint. But we desperately want John & Savannah back together onscreen to get away from the letter-writing. However, once they meet up again, the initial fire btwn. them dissipates; and so does the film. Slow, schmaltzy passages take-over. The film loses focus. Eye rolling subplots interfere. Secondary characters become prominent. Head-scratching decisions are made (by the main characters). And then ... it's back to letter-writing, bittersweet romance, & tragedy. I also did not enjoy the last 1/2 hour where the tepid, 'hopeful' ending of the film is a manipulative departure from the book (my friend Kim informs me); thus, changing the tone of how the book was supposed to be perceived.
You know, I love me a good weepy. Millions of people will line up to see this movie; as Kim & I did. And there are DEFINITELY moments throughout that made my bottom lip protrude, & form a tear drop ... but I wasn't as effected as I thought I'd be because of the general disintegration of the movie as it goes along. Lasse Hallstrom is the director. And though he made this film the best it could have been, it's the 1st of his that I do not love. But I can't really blame him. I love his movies because they are deftly-handled, old-fashioned, sentimental dramas. I actually blame the adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' novel from writer Jamie Linden; turning it into something progressively boring & awkward. And I didn't believe that 2 characters with such a strong initial bond could have such a weird, contrived incident tear them apart (I won't divulge that far-fetched plot twist - but it involves cancer).
Amanda Seyfried (who continues to look adorable in each film she's in) is quite good here. The reason for Savannah's on again-off again romance with John is kind of stupid; but Seyfried does the best she can to make it at all believable. And she rides the fine line between saintly protagonist & disloyal antagonist very well. Channing Tatum - no doubt - is one good-looking guy, but his acting ability has always been suspect. Here, I think he relies a bit too much (from past roles) on the brooding bully type, more than the anguished lover he's supposed to be playing. But he's truly excellent in a highly emotive hospital scene near the end of the film. I felt his heartache. There are several 'farewells' chronicled in this movie, & the one in that hospital will get you the most - surprisingly. I respect the director, & most of the actors. I'm sure 12 yr. old girls will fall for this film. But I just didn't.
They hit it off after a chance encounter in the ocean turns into an instantaneous romance. By the time their unforgettable 2 weeks together are up (& he must go back to the army), they've met each other's families (she, particularly, makes an impression with John's high-functioning autistic father), & formed an unbreakable bond. Determined to continue their relationship, both agree to constantly write letters to each other until his overseas tour of duty is complete. However, 9/11 happens. John's dutily re-signs to the army. And so starts a series of Deus ex Machinas which barely propel the plot forward.
While I really enjoyed the 1st half of the film, the middle section struggles to keep us interested in their back & forth letters. Voice-overs do a lot of the work. The production team does a great job making their correspondence interesting from a visual standpoint. But we desperately want John & Savannah back together onscreen to get away from the letter-writing. However, once they meet up again, the initial fire btwn. them dissipates; and so does the film. Slow, schmaltzy passages take-over. The film loses focus. Eye rolling subplots interfere. Secondary characters become prominent. Head-scratching decisions are made (by the main characters). And then ... it's back to letter-writing, bittersweet romance, & tragedy. I also did not enjoy the last 1/2 hour where the tepid, 'hopeful' ending of the film is a manipulative departure from the book (my friend Kim informs me); thus, changing the tone of how the book was supposed to be perceived.
You know, I love me a good weepy. Millions of people will line up to see this movie; as Kim & I did. And there are DEFINITELY moments throughout that made my bottom lip protrude, & form a tear drop ... but I wasn't as effected as I thought I'd be because of the general disintegration of the movie as it goes along. Lasse Hallstrom is the director. And though he made this film the best it could have been, it's the 1st of his that I do not love. But I can't really blame him. I love his movies because they are deftly-handled, old-fashioned, sentimental dramas. I actually blame the adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' novel from writer Jamie Linden; turning it into something progressively boring & awkward. And I didn't believe that 2 characters with such a strong initial bond could have such a weird, contrived incident tear them apart (I won't divulge that far-fetched plot twist - but it involves cancer).
Amanda Seyfried (who continues to look adorable in each film she's in) is quite good here. The reason for Savannah's on again-off again romance with John is kind of stupid; but Seyfried does the best she can to make it at all believable. And she rides the fine line between saintly protagonist & disloyal antagonist very well. Channing Tatum - no doubt - is one good-looking guy, but his acting ability has always been suspect. Here, I think he relies a bit too much (from past roles) on the brooding bully type, more than the anguished lover he's supposed to be playing. But he's truly excellent in a highly emotive hospital scene near the end of the film. I felt his heartache. There are several 'farewells' chronicled in this movie, & the one in that hospital will get you the most - surprisingly. I respect the director, & most of the actors. I'm sure 12 yr. old girls will fall for this film. But I just didn't.