Will love survive the distance in this 2010 Nicholas Sparks novel-adapted movie, Dear John? In the film, soldier John Tyree (Channing Tatum) becomes romantic with the sweetly, Southern Savannah Lynne Curtis (Amanda Seyfried)and our country's involvement in the war in Afghanastan changes their plans for love.
Although I did not read Dear John the novel, I don't feel like I was in the dark or should have read the book prior. Dear John the film, in the middle of the story rather than the beginning or the end. I liked the "twist" although it took me a little while to realize it was the middle.
The story is about two young people who meet during spring break, only to fall in love with each other before being separated by war. They make a promise to write letters to each other as a diary of their lives apart.
While in Germany John finds out he is being deployed for a second tour in Afghanistan which puts a strain on the relationship and John and Savannah grow further apart in miles and in matters of the heart. The movie follows this couple through highs and lows and real life situations.
Personally, I love "love." I like romantic movies and enjoy how the movie, shows the two characters growing close over the two weeks of spring break. They meet each other's friends, neighbors, and family, spend quality time together and Savannah make John a better person, engaging in charity work. Although their love was sweet and fun, I feel it isn't realistic enough for them to want to continue a long-distance relationship after such a short time together.
I know true love can occasionally occur within a short period of time, but Dear John seems way too romantic of an idea for the the seriousness that follows. Thankfully, the relationship between the love and the amount of time it takes them to get there doesn't take away from the movie for me, because I get caught up in the romance and story anyway.
There are many great analogies touched on in the movie's opening sequence that carry through the entirety of the movie, but the references to coins are the biggest symbolic tools in Dear John. I enjoy how the use of coin symbolism; as a father/son bond, people and how they can be damaged mentally and physically, and how precious coins and people can both be, especially the unique ones.
Continuing the story, before John and Savannah have to leave each other, the two make, "a promise to tell each other everything, write it all down, don't leave anything out." This promise is a means to continue their relationship and vicariously, be a part of each other's lives while they're separated. One memory they share about watching the moon keeps them close no matter where they are in the world. I would love to have seen this bit incorporated into the ending.
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