Analysis of Dear John
This paper aims to apply the three levels of criticism to the film Dear John. Dear John is one of the most-watched movies in the year 2010. It is a romantic drama cum war film that was released in America on 5th February 2010. It is an adaptation of the novel Dear John by Nicholas Spark and revolves around a soldier who falls in love with a young lady with whom they exchange letters after his deployment to the war zone.
Descriptive Criticism
The film directed by Lassa Hallstrom, stars Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried as John Tyree and Savannah Lynn Curtis Respectively. Other actors include Henry Thomas as Tim Wheddon, Scott Porter as Randy, Richard Jenkins as Bill Tyree and Keith Robinson as captain Stone among others. The film is set in the year 2000. John, a soldier on leave meets Lynn, a college student and after a few days, they fall in love. Some times later, john gets an opportunity to meet Lynn’s family. He later meets a neighbor to Lynn called Tim Wheddon and his son Allan who is suffering from autism. Lynn is Allan’s role model. Lynn later meets John’s dad and they become instant friends. John’s dad lives reclusively and his only interest is a collection of coins that he has kept for ages.
John later informs Lynn of his father’s obsession with coins and admits that his dad did not play a big parental role in his upbringing. John’s mother is not mentioned anywhere in the plot. Lynn tells John that his father could be autistic, like Wheddon’s son, Allan. John is not happy with that suggestion because he thinks that Lynn means that his father is a retard. In his anger, John is involved in an altercation with a rich neighbor of Lynn called Randy. The role of Randy is played by Scott Porter. As they fight John accidentally punches Wheddon and on the following day, he apologizes to him as he leaves his new love with a note. This note is the first of a series of letters that the two lovers are going to exchange within the plot of the movie. His leave is almost coming to an end and they spend the last day before his departure together. The following day, John goes back to the army, leaving Lynn behind. The distance between them does not succeed in thawing their love away because the two start a long-distance relationship that is sustained through handwritten letters. John expects to return home after finishing his enlistment but the September 11 attacks throw his plans into disarray. He is torn between duty and going back home. The 20 hours off he is given is spent with Lynn, her family and his father. John chooses to continue serving in the army after seeking Lynn’s advice. The missions become more dangerous for the army officers as the two lovers drift apart. Lynn sends the Dear John letter that informs him that she is already engaged to someone else which frustrates and depresses John. On a mission, he is shot several times.He is allowed to leave the army on humanitarian grounds but chooses to stay to overcome Lynn’s betrayal. He decides to stay for as long as possible. However, his father suffers a heart attack and this forces him to return home. His father does not survive the heart attack and dies later. After his father dies, he decides to visit Lynn. He finds out that she married a man called Tim and not her wealthy friend. This is not Tim Wheddon who had an autistic child. Lynn tells him that Tim has cancer and cannot be home until they buy a drug they could not afford. John visits Tim without Lynn. He sells the coins collection left by his late dad to fund Tim’s surgery before returning to the army. Later, he gets a surprise letter from Lynn informing him that she knows about his philanthropic actions and thanks to him sincerely. Unfortunately, Tim dies after sixty days. Moved by the letter that Lynn had sent, he leaves the army and the film comes to an end when the two are embracing in the street after they meet. In the Movies’ soundtrack CD are 10 songs. The songs include Paperweight by Joshua Radin, The Moon by Swell Season and Amber by 311.
Interpretive Criticism
The film’s main focus is the challenges that face long-distance relationships, showing that most of them do not work. It also highlights the nature of undying love. Despite betrayal from Lynn, John does the unexpected by funding the operation of his ex-girlfriend’s husband. This is a very rare gesture that highlights how human beings should react to situations of betrayal. The reunion between John and Lynn towards the end is an indication that the two were meant for each other despite the split brought by the distance. The death of Tim and his resignation from the army remove all the walls between them and most probably, they get married in the long run. The film also addresses the condition of autism. Just like Lynn had said, it is highly possible that John’s father was autistic and that is why he led a reclusive life.
Evaluative Criticism
The movie suffers from the detached direction of Lassa Hallstrom which curiously robs the movie of its thrill. There are very many disconnects in the movie and were it not for the glamour added by Channing Tatum, this movie would have looked like the hollow Nigerian Love Dramas. It is also very predictable because it is made from the same ingredients that make most of the tearjerkers that are based on the Works of Sparks. What makes the movie tick is the excellent casting and the classic music on the soundtrack that helps to shield the many disconnects created by the flaws of the director. I think the reason the movie debuted on a high is that it was released during the valentine’s period, otherwise it would not have recorded such highs at any other time.
Conclusion
This is a movie one cannot watch twice. It does not have the thrill that would make one desire to watch it again. The movie cannot reach the class of other movies like The Return of the Cobra and Avatar and I believe that the hype it got upon release was exaggerated. I would therefore not recommend the movie to anyone and I don’t think it will ever be a classic.