"Dear John"

Drama, Romance and Adaptation. Rated PG-13. 1 hour, 42 minutes.

Dear John is written by Nicholas Sparks and this is another one of his novels adapted into a screenplay.

A Special Forces Army soldier, John Tyree (played by Channing Tatum), was home on leave in Charleston, South Carolina. He was surfing in the Atlantic when Savannah's (played by Amanda Seyfried) purse fell off the pier and into the water. He dove in and got it for her.

Savannah was on Spring break when they met that day. She was interested in special education in college because her neighbor on the beach had an autistic child and John had a slightly autistic father. Richard Jenkins plays John's dad who had an extensive coin collection.

John and Savannah eventually got to know each other and dated for the rest of the two weeks he was on leave. Then later, he was shipped out to Afghanistan.

They wrote each other letters every day while he was overseas. At another time, he had a 3-day leave and decided to visit Savannah again. With flight time, he had only 18 hours to visit. But 18 hours is better than no hours, he thought.

After Sept. 11, he was pondering extending his service time for two more years. Savannah didn't want that at all. One day he received a real Dear John letter from her saying that she was engaged.

After many years of service, he returned home to find his dad in the hospital. He later died. Sitting alone in the church in front of his dad's casket, he was contemplating seeing Savannah. He drove over to her house. She informed him that she was married and couldn't wait for him. It just happened.

To see what happens next, you have to see the movie. I would definitely recommend it. It is one of Nicholas Spark's tearjerkers.

Overall rating: A

Photo credit: Sony Pictures

Dear John movie poster