Review of Dear John (2010) by Asif K — 10 Oct 2011

Wow I actually liked this movie ... I was expecting this movie to be awful after all of the bad reviews I've read. Nothing is wrong with this movie! Nothing is wrong with the acting. It's actually a pretty good movie.

There are definitely moments in this one that tug at your heart and get you teary eyed. I have not read the book, so I can't compare the two but I say the movie is worth watching. Better than The Last song, Dear John succeeds where Sparks duds like Rodanthe crumbled because it harnesses fresher talents to pull off a comforting tale about the enduring power of love.

The story isn't unique, (neither is The Notebook) but it is executed in a way that makes you feel as though you're watching something new. Channing Tatum is the lovable beefcake reminiscent of Marky Mark, and Amanda Seyfried is cute, delivering well executed dialogue.

And I did actually think they had good chemistry, despite what other reviewers have said. Channing's John is an army boy who had a lot of issues growing up, so you can't expect him to be overly forthcoming with his emotions.

Richard Jenkins gives a great performance as the father, and even Henry Thomas is likable as the neighbour. To me, this was acted out a lot better (and even structured better) than Twilight: New Moon, which I assume is meant to appeal to the same audience.

I know to some that isn't saying much, but perhaps our expectations are a bit high these days. If you want to see a sweet love story with likable characters, then you might just enjoy this film. nice movie.