MOVIE REVIEW - Dear John

Nicolas Sparks books that come to the movies are among the toughest to review. Dear John is the latest Sparks book at the movies this week.

Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried star in this young love story that takes place in the early 2000's Tatum stars as John. He is an army special forces soldier that is home on leave at the beach. There he meets Savannah (Seyfried) who is on Spring Break from college. He of course is a good guy bound by honor, family and duty. She is a great young kid in every regard. They meet and fall in love in two short weeks. Then John has to go back to duty.

The two exchange letters daily in the year they are apart, all the while keeping the faith in each other and their young relationship. Then September 11, 2001 happens. And John bound by honor re-ups in the army, after his tour is up. A new two year commitment is upon them. Can they survive the time apart? Is it all too much? Will there be someone else for Savannah in Johns absence? Will John survive his tour of duty in the Middle East? This is Dear John.

The tough thing about Sparks stories I feel is that they make far better books than movies. They read well, and easy. Dear John isn't a bad movie, but it's a Sparks movie. They all have the same feel. The characters that come to the screen are all somewhat the same, and the formula works. These movies by and large are huge hits. Most of these stories are about good people with big problems and can't quite seem to get love right. And that's Dear John

Truth be told, the audience seemed to love this movie. Full house, clapping at the end, sobbing throughout. All signs that Dear John is touching the ones it's supposed to. In a movie sense, Dear John is not the most exciting Sparks movie ever. There were scenes that seemed to drag on from time to time, where no one was really saying much. Lots of letter reading too. And even though this is over in a tidy 95 minutes, at times it seemed long. But not a deal breaker here.

The core audience who will pay time and time again to see Dear John won't care about one thing that's maybe out of place here. These movies don't win awards, or really get very good critical acclaim. But they know their fans, and cater to them wonderfully. This is a topical story for our times, that speaks directly to many people affected by the current climate involving young people in our world today. And for that, it should be applauded. This Sparks story has a reason to be told, and to me that's a separator from some of his other works. I did find myself caring a bit more for these characters than the typical Sparks characters.

Dear John. It is what is is. It's a Sparks story on the screen. Destined for big success. Maybe not by critics, but sometimes by someone more important.....it's audience.