Dear John (Sony Pictures)
A Film the Tea Party Could Love
Dear John is a film based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks. It is an anomaly from what Hollywood usually offers in that it praises patriotism, sacrifice and strong family support. With characteristics like that, this is a film the Tea Party movement could take to its heart.
Of course the first obstacle the movie has to overcome is it is based on a Nicholas Sparks novel. Having Sparks as source material usually means the film is dismissed as being sappy and contrived. Sparks writes emotional stories and though they routinely please his readers, they do not impress the critics. And the same is true of movies made from his books even though The Notebook is eternally popular among viewers of all ages.
This movie focuses on John Tyree (Channing Tatum) an Army sergeant who is home on leave in South Carolina. While at a beach outside Charleston, South Carolina he meets Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried). She is a college student living at her parents beach house during the summer and has two weeks left before she must return to college. The two are instantly attracted to each other and plan to reconnect when John finishes the one year remaining on his enlistment.
During this two week period John is also introduced to her friend Tim (Henry Thomas) and his young son Adam (Braeden Reed). Adam is autistic and has captured Savannahs heart. Because of her connection with him she plans to change her major to special education.
The film follows the romance between John and Savannah and focuses on the problems that occur in their lives. One of them is Johns relationship with his father (Richard Jenkins). Mr. Tyree is a remote man with some idiosyncrasies that suggest he made have some emotional problems of his own. John has an awkward time communicating with him but Savannah seems to bring them closer together.
The acting in this film is good with Jenkins being outstanding. He manages to create the most emotional moments in the movie. Tatum and Seyfried are at their best and make the struggles of the couple touch the audience. Thomas, who played Elliot in E. T., is also interesting to watch.
The film is rated PG-13 for some mild profanity and violence.
As with The Notebook, the makers of this film do not follow the plot of Sparks book completely. There are changes made that enhance the film and give it more impact. They also make the film more appealing to its intended audience.
Dear John is a love story with a little more weight than the average film of this type. It should increase Tatums star status and enhance Jenkins stature as an actor. Most of all it should please moviegoers from start to finish just as The Notebook did.
I scored Dear John a conservative 7 out of 10.
