Movie Reviews: "Dear John" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 02-05-2010, 07:43 PM

Movie Reviews: Dear John

Time was when critics might have called a movie like Dear John "schmaltzy," referring to the Yiddish term for the sickly sweet chicken fat that Jewish families once slathered on rye bread. An acquired taste was necessary to appreciate it.

Apparently it has not been acquired by today's critics who appear to have had a collective case of indigestion over Dear John.

Indeed, Lou Lumenick in the New York Post writes that Dear John "pushed me perilously close to nausea and diabetic shock, not to mention deep sleep."

The movie is based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks, a leading schmaltz purveyor. (He has turned out 15 of them.)

Orlando Sentinel film critic Roger Moore describes them as "beach novels" and the movies made from them as "cinematic sand castles -- sappy, old fashioned and utterly forgotten by the next time the tide rolls in."

Writes A.O. Scott in the New York Times, "In Mr. Sparks's novels ... star-crossed lovers, often shadowed by illness and death, have an odd way of producing happy, or at least blissfully cathartic, endings. He is a master of the feel-good weepie."

Linda Barnard in the Toronto Star agrees, saying that Dear John is contrived to have "romantics reaching for their hankies," but, she adds, "the only eyeball action Dear John got out of me involved rolling."

-IMDB News

Schmoopie · 02-06-2010, 05:21 AM

The Seattle Times seemed to like this one for a basic romantic movie. I'm a total romantic at heart, so I'm gonna check this out when it comes out on DVD. I'm sure it won't win any awards, but I'm a sucker for a good love story!

Karen* · 02-06-2010, 06:39 AM

I saw this movie tonight. I've been hearing mixed reviews and people who've read the book have said that was better than the movie. I haven't read the book yet and I think the movie had its issues (Especially the ending), but for the most part, I really enjoyed it.

Schmoopie · 02-06-2010, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karen*

I saw this movie tonight. I've been hearing mixed reviews and people who've read the book have said that was better than the movie. I haven't read the book yet and I think the movie had its issues (Especially the ending), but for the most part, I really enjoyed it.

I vaguely remember seeing that it was a book as well, so thanks for the reminder-and the personal review!

Liza · 02-07-2010, 06:06 PM

I'm a big romance fan, but Nicholas Sparks is too schmaltzy even for me. I couldn't stand "The Notebook" or "Message in a Bottle." I thought they were ridiculously sentimental. Lifetime and The Hallmark Channel have provided me with more depth than those movies.

02-05-2010, 07:43 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,136	Movie Reviews: "Dear John" Movie Reviews: Dear John Time was when critics might have called a movie like Dear John "schmaltzy," referring to the Yiddish term for the sickly sweet chicken fat that Jewish families once slathered on rye bread. An acquired taste was necessary to appreciate it. Apparently it has not been acquired by today's critics who appear to have had a collective case of indigestion over Dear John. Indeed, Lou Lumenick in the New York Post writes that Dear John "pushed me perilously close to nausea and diabetic shock, not to mention deep sleep." The movie is based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks, a leading schmaltz purveyor. (He has turned out 15 of them.) Orlando Sentinel film critic Roger Moore describes them as "beach novels" and the movies made from them as "cinematic sand castles -- sappy, old fashioned and utterly forgotten by the next time the tide rolls in." Writes A.O. Scott in the New York Times, "In Mr. Sparks's novels ... star-crossed lovers, often shadowed by illness and death, have an odd way of producing happy, or at least blissfully cathartic, endings. He is a master of the feel-good weepie." Linda Barnard in the Toronto Star agrees, saying that Dear John is contrived to have "romantics reaching for their hankies," but, she adds, "the only eyeball action Dear John got out of me involved rolling." -IMDB News

02-06-2010, 05:21 AM	#2
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	The Seattle Times seemed to like this one for a basic romantic movie. I'm a total romantic at heart, so I'm gonna check this out when it comes out on DVD. I'm sure it won't win any awards, but I'm a sucker for a good love story!
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

02-06-2010, 06:39 AM	#3
Karen* paradox. Forum Superstar Join Date: Jan 08, 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 28,365	I saw this movie tonight. I've been hearing mixed reviews and people who've read the book have said that was better than the movie. I haven't read the book yet and I think the movie had its issues (Especially the ending), but for the most part, I really enjoyed it.
	__________________ karen on \| twitter \| tumblr

02-07-2010, 06:06 PM	#5
Liza BestYearsofOurLives Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 24, 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 6,537	I'm a big romance fan, but Nicholas Sparks is too schmaltzy even for me. I couldn't stand "The Notebook" or "Message in a Bottle." I thought they were ridiculously sentimental. Lifetime and The Hallmark Channel have provided me with more depth than those movies.