It needs to be said right up front that this is just an average movie--the actors are above average, but the script and story line are below average, and so it just evens out to 'watch this if you want something romantic and not at all challenging" rather than what I usually write about, which are things that I have read or seen that I would recommend. There are two things that stop me from totally dismissing this, however. THe first is that in this story of Savannah and John, there is a harsh element of truth about today's soldier. John is a Special Forces soldier, and he has a fierce loyalty to his fellow soldiers that does not allow him to rationally make career choices related to his young love and his life goals. That would not be enough to carry the moive, however, because the issue is not articulately teased out.
What is remarkable is the portrayal by Richard Jenkins of a man with Aspberger's syndrome. His son does not even realize that his father is anything more than odd and quiet, quirky and set in his ways. Savannah recognizes his pathology for what it is, and she finds ways to forge a friendship with him--she takes what is a liability and makes it the basis for thier interactions. She has him teach her everything he knows about his coin collection. He makes meatloaf on Saturday and she comes to dinner expecting to eat meatloaf. It is a template for how to work with the pathology. Jenkins is emerging as a nuanced and gifted actor who has much to teach us, and while this film has fatal flaws, it also has some saving graces.
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