Dear John (2010)

Movie of the week

A story of love and commitment

I went to see this movie after a friend recommended it. The recommendation was spot on: it perfectly captured the pain of loving someone who is on active duty in the military.

The theme of commitment in the movie runs in three paths – to one’s loved one, to one’s duty and to those whose family members need care.

It is a beautiful movie; co-star Amanda Seyfried showed off her many talents by singing some of the movie’s soundtracks.

Some movie reviewers who read the book were disappointed with the film, but bestselling books and their film adaptations rarely run in parallel; those movies that do follow a book 100 percent usually end up a disappointment like Flags of our Fathers.

Synopsis

Special Forces Army Sergeant John Tyree is home on a two-week leave from Germany. He meets Savannah Curtis after he dives into the ocean to retrieve Savannah’s purse that falls off the pier.

John is smitten by Savannah and falls in love at first sight. She is a college student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who is on spring break and is helping build a house for the charity Habitat for Humanity. John decides to give her a hand.

Along the way romance blooms and Savannah falls deeply in love with John. As she is about to go back to college, she promises to write John overseas during the next year until he returns to her after completing his enlistment. Their love is put to the test when John reenlists after the 9/11 attack.