Dear John lacks the power to be a truly emotional film
Posted by The Skyliner on February 10th, 2010Jordan Ecarma
Copy Editor
Dear John attempts the scope of an epic romance but falls short. It tells the story of a young American soldier and the girl whose letters he lives for while he is overseas. They meet over spring break and are inseparable for two crucial weeks, predictably falling in love and later communicating through letters. Hers of course begin with “Dear John.”
The movie is based on the book of the same title by Nicholas Sparks. Sparks is well known both in the realms of novel and film, having authored bestsellers like The Notebook and A Walk to Remember.
Dear John’s storyline revolves around the principle that young love is never quite forgotten, a concept that translated to screen brilliance in The Notebook, but does not work here nearly as well. The film drags through a stilted beginning and never really picks up. While there are a few lyrical moments, it is more often weepy and overwrought. The disappointing script and sometimes painful choppiness of the story are a shame when the two leads are as likable as they come. But the characters are never truly developed, failing to completely win the audience’s hearts or each other’s.
One of this movie’s central problems is the lack of anything more than a physical connection between the soldier, John (played by Channing Tatum), and the girl he leaves behind, Savannah (played by Amanda Seyfried). While the actors do have some lovely shots together, their characters never seem to connect on any deeper level. Their dialogue together feels awkward from the beginning, something that is not erased even by the heady love scene later in the film.
While Dear John has its issues, it at least is not yet another anti-war, anti-America movie. It does deal gently with the soldiers portrayed in this film. The men who defend this country are shown as dedicated heroes, as they should be. The best parts of this movie are those that deal with the reality of the sacrifices these men make for America.
Although there are some nice moments to this film, overall it comes across in too heavy-handed a fashion to be enjoyable. The blame for Dear John’s depressing quality should probably be placed on poor director’s choices, not on its cast. Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfriend are capable and come across well onscreen. But their talents are not properly represented here. Dear John never quite reaches the level of poignancy it needs to win over its viewers. Both the abrupt ending to this film and a general lack of redemption contribute to leaving its audience feeling empty. For a film meant to be a tearjerker, Dear John is strangely lacking in emotion.
Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 3