Dear John

Channing Tatum is John, a military man who is on vacation for 2 weeks. Amanda Seyfried is Savannah, a rich, beautiful, loving, sweet lady on school break. John was raised by his loving but uncommunciative father who is a coin collector and who cooks chicken on Saturdays and lasagna on Sundays. I might have missed it but there was no mention of John's mother. In a matter of few days, they fell in love and promised eternity to one another. Then it was time for John to go back to the army. The exchange of letters started (thus the title Dear John, but why not Dear Savannah???) and this is the part I enjoyed most since I am a stickler for nicely-composed writings. In movies, more than the visuals, I love love being expressed in words. Anyway...

9/11 happens and John re-enlists. And re-enlists again. Until one Dear John letter appears where Savannah informed him that she has been engaged to someone else (ah so THAT is the reason the title is Dear John...cool). The movie then continues to tell how John took the news, how he boldly faced danger by enlisting in dangerous missions, how he got shot, and why he needs to go home, not for Savannah, but for his father who had a stroke.

Now this is the part that somehow just connected to me, John's relationship with his father. Theirs is love unexpressed. My father is almost the same - quiet, unexpressive, calloused even. But I know in my heart that he loves his family so much to the point of cooking for us, cleaning after our mess figuratively and literally, even doing the laundry for my clothes. But I never heard him say any words of endearment. Once during high school our religion class had an assignment where we are to request our parents to write on a piece of paper what they love best about their child. I learned that he loves me for being God-fearing, responsible and kind. Small and simple words but big for me. And I will never forget when my mother told me he secretly cried when I passed the board exam. My father is 69 years old but still very sharp and strong. As much as I can, I spend quality time with him like joining him when he eats alone, treating him to a massage, watching a concert with him, bringing him to our company outing, anything - just so he won't feel sad and alone.

Moving on...

The story continued to tell how John buried his father and how he dealt with Savannah's new love. How could she fell for someone is something John found hard to accept, but WHO she fell in love with hurts him more. But the story tells how John's good heart overpowers his lover's heart and he did one act of kindness that is utterly too kind and selfless.

Then somebody must have pushed the fast forward button because the scenes that transpired next were so fast I was just beginning to get weepy and suddenly the credits appeared.

It was a tear-jerker alright but it lacks the kilig I expected to get. They say the book version is better.