ScreenWize

I have long been an admirer of director Lasse Hallstrom, a composed and confident filmmaker who, despite making the ABBA music videos back in the 1970s, has never been seduced by the quick cut or the gritty handheld look. His feature films – from My Life As A Dog and Who’s Eating Gilbert Grape to An Unfinished Life and Chocolat - are classically constructed and infused with a warmth that comes both from Hallstrom’s characters and his approach to cinematography. Most distinctive with Hallstrom’s work is his confidence to pace a story with enough time to let us savour the emotions in play. If you want a nice story beautifully told, Lasse’s your man.

You can see Hallstrom’s attraction to Dear John – a contemporary story of the love that blossoms between beautiful Savannah (Amanda Seyfried) and a young soldier John (Channing Tatum). Hallstrom gently lets us find these two - both on a summer break at the beach - and watch them fall in love. Two weeks later, when John must go back to his overseas posting with the army and Savannah to college, the love letters start - and with them Halltrom’s problem: how to keep a visual love story going when the two main characters are separated by duty, commitment and ten thousand kilometers. The long montages whilst letters are read, and the sub-plot involving Savannah’s family friend Tim (Henry Thomas) and his autistic son help pass the time, but they are forced and distracting, and the contrivances become greater as the story unfolds. It’s the main action between the two lovers we want to see, thanks to the charming screen chemistry between Seyfried and Tatum, even if we know (courtesy of the film’s title) that a traditional “Dear John” letter will presumably arrive.

Based on a novel by Nicolas Sparks - the author of a bookshelf of best-selling weepies – there’s not quite enough narrative depth here for anyone, including the experienced Hallstrom, to sustain the story that is set up. Everything – from the international conflicts that John is involved in, to the party scenes Stateside - has a slightly stilted feel, not raw enough to be real, not dramatic enough to be tragic or epic. Tatum is subdued and thoughtful as the young soldier and Seyfried strong and intelligent as the girl who must live without her man. The always watcheable Richard Jenkins (who plays John’s father) is a delightful addition to the cast. You might need some tissues as you relax back and let this one over wash over you, but a cushion would be handier.

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Filed Under: Reviews by Simon