Oh, ‘Dear’

The War on Terror gets as close as it’s ever come to the realm of romantic comedy this Friday with Dear John, based on the Nicholas Sparks novel from 2006. Channing Tatum stars as a U.S. soldier who falls for a college co-ed. Despite writing often and promising to think of each other fondly while on opposite continents, the young couple faces almost constant challenges, including his father’s Asperger’s Syndrome and 9/11. One-time Mean Girl and Mamma Mia! singer Amanda Seyfried continues her march to the A-list in her first leading role as an adult in this love story fans of Sparks’ The Notebook ought to recognize and relish. Richard Jenkins and Henry Thomas co-star. Rated PG-13. (Image courtesy Screen Gems)