Dear John, my review

2010, ***1/2, PG-13

Another Nicolas Sparks novel is adapted' directed by Lasse Holstrom ("The Cider House Rules," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape"). They seem to be a regular thing now, about every 2.5 years... This is definitely not a bad thing! The aftermath of 9/11 sent US Troops to war with Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries. This has created many families, and other relationships to crumble or thrive on the separation makes the heart grow stronger, or to whatever extent you might believe in...

John Tyree (Channing Tatum, "Fighting," "Step Up") is a solider in the US Army. He is home on leave with his father (Richard Jenkins, "Step Brothers"), in Wilmington, N.C. He randomly runs into a College bound Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried, "Jennifer's Body," "Mean Girls") on the beach one afternoon, when her purse falls off the pier, and he dives into save it. (I think it would have been better if she got knocked off the pier and he saved her -- now that would have made the story more believable (he saves her life, they fall in mad love) ..don't you think?

Basically, this love-sick saga is through the powerful tool of pen, paper, and a stamp...over a year they write back and forth, then she tells him some bad news, and you think their romance is over... Well I guess you'll have to find out.

I gained a lot more respect for Channing Tatum as an actor in this film. He has done mostly kiddie type movies, but I guess everyone has to start somewhere. He's a good looking guy, ripped, and really shows he can pull off the emotional part of the script, well.

Check this one out on DVD, today. This is a must buy for Sparks movie collectors.