Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teens will swoon for far-fetched, syrupy romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Dear John
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 11 parent reviews
Based on 52 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is an emotional and touching experience, combining elements of romance and sadness that resonate particularly with older kids and teenagers. While many viewers appreciate the performances and storyline, some criticize it for being overly long and not fully capturing the depth of the original book.
- emotional impact
- age appropriateness
- romance elements
- mixed reviews
- performance praise
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Based on Nicholas Sparks' best-selling novel, DEAR JOHN follows college student Savannah (Amanda Seyfried), who meets special ops soldier John (Channing Tatum) while visiting her family's Charleston beach house for spring break. After they "meet cute" (he jumps into the ocean to rescue her purse), they quickly become inseparable and fall in love after just two weeks. When John is redeployed for his final year of service, the two write dozens of letters to each other. But in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, John breaks the news to Savannah that his entire unit is voluntarily extending their enlistment -- thereby postponing his reunion with her for another two years. But as time marches forward, John notices that Savannah's letters have slowed. ...
Is It Any Good?
Tatum and Seyfried manage to conjure a comfortable chemistry, but their characters are simply too good to seem real. Seyfried's Savannah is selfless to a fault, and her willingness to help others even at the expense of her own happiness is over the top. Anyone familiar with Sparks' novels (or the many movies based on them) knows that there are always several obstacles to keep his star-crossed lovers apart, and Dear John is no exception; but the "twist" here is so far-fetched that it borders on infuriating.
Still, those looking for a weepy love story may forgive that Dear John stops making sense halfway through. Director Lasse Hallstrom knows how to manipulate audiences into crying for his characters, and there's plenty of Kleenex-worthy material toward the movie's end. One subplot that's genuinely affecting is John's relationship with his autistic father (Richard Jenkins); one of the movie's most touching scenes is when John reads his hospitalized father a letter. While Dear John ranks nowhere near the scorching romance that Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams created in The Notebook, it's slightly better than several other bland films based on Sparks' books.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Savannah and John's romance. Does it seem believable? How does it compare to real-life teen relationships?
Do Savannah's choices resonate with you? What do you think about her decision to put her love for John second to her sense of obligation to others?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 5, 2010
- On DVD or streaming : May 25, 2010
- Cast : Amanda Seyfried , Channing Tatum , Henry Thomas
- Director : Lasse Hallstrom
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Screen Gems
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 108 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some sensuality and violence
- Last updated : May 21, 2025
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