Director Lasse Hallström , who has helmed such dewy fare as Chocolat , Something to Talk About and The Shipping News , gave the remaining femme audience the standard Harlequin cocktail of a handsome soldier ( G.I. Joe 's Channing Tatum ) , an idealistic gal ( Amanda Seyfried , of Mamma Mia ! and Big Love ) and a big war ( he re-enlists after 9 / 11 ) .