Bad "twist" destroys the film!!!

Rating: 5/10 (4 May 2010)

I am usually a huge fan of the romantic comedy/drama genre but having been let down so many times I have learn not to expect much from these kind of films.
"Dear John" ended up being another film in a long line of romantic dramas that just disappoints.
The two leads (Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried) are two beautiful people to look at. Channing is hot and there are many shirtless scenes in this film to satisfy teenage girls all over. Seyfried have that magic quality in a star that you see only comes along every once and awhile. She has that engaging, sensuous appeal to her that captivates you the minute you see her on screen.
For the first half of the film it works. You clearly get why Savannah - an innocent, conservative girl who clearly seems like she has her head firmly on her shoulders as opposed to it being in the clouds - evident in most teenagers of that Twilight/Justin Bieber grouping.
She is immediately smitten by him as is he. There is a maturity about their attraction and love though as opposed to it being some silly teenage crush. That part works.
What doesn't work is the second half of the film where John goes away to the Army. There is a twist coming here and it does not make sense because during this time away the audience never gets to see Savannah's pain and longing to be with John. Instead she all but disappears from the film for a while as the trauma and horror John faces in the army takes precedent. Therefore Savannah's revelation to John - which ultimately ends their romance - leaves the audience hating her as oppose to understanding her pain and heartbreak she must have obviously went through being away from John for so long.
There is a scene in the film - it's the one where the film's poster is taken - where they're both sitting on the shore by the beach and she whispers something to John that ultimately turns out to be a silly joke. Had the writers chose to go down that route and make it that what she whispers to John turns out to be true which she later keeps from him, this film could have been saved.
Otherwise the current ending falls flat and I don't believe Savannah is ever redeemed in the audience eyes that will make the audience want to see her with John again.