Now on DVD: Dear John

Last night I decided to indulge myself and watch the new Nicholas Sparks' film Dear John starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. I really enjoyed the Notebook and attempted to watch other Nicholas Sparks' films but always found them to be too sappy with not enough plot and character development. Dear John falls right in between the excellence of The Notebook and the terrible disappointment of Nights in Rodanthe. Though it was very over the top at times, I was overall pleased with the film.

The film starts with Savannah, Seyfried, accidently dropped her purse off of a pier. Her date runs down the pier to enter the ocean and retrieve it when John, Tatum, jumps off of the pier into the ocean and gets the purse. From this moment on, the two have a connection and begin a two week relationship while John is on leave from the army. When John's leave is up and he must return to Germany, he and Savannah decide to stay together. He only has a year left after which they will be able to be together. However, September 11th happens soon after and his troop decides to reenlist. Though John wants to remain with his troop and defend his country, he knows that he will have to stay in the military for another four years. Such a decision seems impossible for the couple and will push them to the breaking point.

What I liked about this movie is that it was more realistic than other Sparks' novels and movies. Of course there was a layer of cheese, as there is with all Sparks' films. But I found some of the sappiness endearing. You have to be in the right mood for this film, but when you're ready for a little mindless romance...check it out!

-DLP