Don't watch the film if you've read the book!

Rating: 5/10 (23 May 2010)

Well, what can I say? I don't know why they even bothered saying this film was based on the book, because apart from being call Dear John, having Savannah and John as the main characters and having her tell him his father is autistic it's nothing like the book.
I wanted to read the book before I saw the film as lots of people were saying that it was really good etc etc. Plus I'd been impressed with Amanda in Mamma Mia so was expecting good things.
The film has changed 2 of the main characters (Tim and Alan - father and son) from being brothers in the book. He was also supposed to be only a little older than Savannah. They cut out most of the middle of the book and the ending was totally different - Savannah and John never ended up together.
The story was changed completely and you didn't really get an idea of how much they loved each other - it all seemed a bit superficial. I think if I hadn't read the book it would have been an OK film!