SmugKitZine Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

Matrixiole Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Melanie Bouvet The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Abegail Noëlle While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Alanjackd What a shame this was binned after 2 seasons. John Sullivan needs more time to develop his characters and this could have run for years and tears if it had the right backing.Let us not forget that OFAH was close to being binned after series 2 ..but they stuck with it...same as Dear John,the character development was so important..but alas we never got the chance to watch this beauty grow.Real funny characters here..a real bunch of people with issues thrown together to stew a great feed-line comedy.Sullivan's work is very similar in that the characters gel over 3 or 4 seasons . Think Kirk St Moritz..think Mickey Pearce...think Trigger..think Ralph..it all fits that this was a precursor to character work in OFAH . I would personally have liked more of this and less of OFAH!In a nutshell..a gem and will live on in DVD forever..

James Proud Brit I may be, but I'm ready to admit that, if you believe the main purpose of comedy sitcoms is to raise a laugh (with not too many strings attached), then the Americans do it better. Though certainly not devoid of British input, "Frasier" has had me laughing hysterically more times than I can remember, and it (still) works because it limits the smut, raises the intelligence, involves acting as much as joking and does not rest on the laurels of "whimsy" when real funniness is in reach. Very occasionally the Brits also manage such a winning combination in a sitcom and - a few years before "Frasier" - we managed to come out with "Dear John" - one of that select list of products good enough to give rise to a version across the Atlantic. The British success is that of John Sullivan, whose "Only Fools and Horses" delighted the entire United Kingdom, but left this reviewer entirely cold. However, he was also involved with "Citizen Smith", an entirely different matter, also worthy of recommendation. "Dear John" is a success because, first, it is actually funny (the same really cannot always be said of British sitcoms). It raises a laugh and not just the occasional smile or chuckle. But it is also kind and warm and nice and sympathetic, while still furnishing various kinds of "edge", most especially an edge of failure and pathos and the need - sometimes overwhelming and desperate - to look for support in life. There are no unpleasant characters, though fantasist "Kirk St. Moritz" (played by Peter Blake) comes closest with his occasionally more-hurtful barbs against fellow Singles Club participant Kate (adorably rendered by Belinda Lang). Both attend the club as failures in life (whether they realise it or not), as does (in very aware fashion) the titular star - "John" - played by the tragically-shortlived Ralph Bates, who resembles all of his fellow players in the programme in being a high-calibre actor. Those taking an interest now will not appreciate, unless informed, that most Brits had known Bates previously in an entirely non-comical context as the evil rotter George Warleggan in the 1975 version of "Poldark", hence the particular surprise and delight at seeing the same face appearing in a light comedy. As a contrast it really, really worked! The far-from-lively or cool 1-2-1 Club has (a few) other participants and needless to say they are failures and misfits too, with quirks and foibles that are funny, but also mostly endearing and touching. The group leader, and hence the person who in theory at least has her act together more than the others, is Louise, as played with seductive magnificence by Rachel Bell. A fine feature of this comedy is its democratic shareout of the laughs and importances of the roles. All participants get their chance here, and we the audience are the richer for it.Sadly, there are just 14 half-hour episodes, so in this case nobody can accuse the makers of wringing the story dry. But it is touching, high-quality stuff that has several serious-enough messages to put across, but does indeed raise the necessary quota of laughs.

didi-5 When John Lacey (the wonderful Ralph Bates) finds a letter from his wife announcing she's leaving him, he signs up to a singles club to try to find the next 'someone special'.John's adventures and the hilarious supporting characters (sex-mad Louise, played by Rachel Bell; medallion man Kirk, played by Peter Blake; weedy Ralph ('Rafe'), played by Peter Denyer; and flighty Kate, played by Belinda Lang), made this short series a must-watch, although it has only been given one re-run on the BBC since.Ralph Bates played John as an vulnerable, accident-prone, bumbler who gets very little right in his life. His landlady Mrs Lemenski (Irene Prador) is a thorn in his side, and his son (played by Bates's real-life son) is at that difficult age where he's asking questions and up to all sorts. Watching all this is great fun and I prefer this comedy to others of John Sullivan's such as 'Only Fools and Horses'.

PADMark1984 One of my favourite comedies of all time. It's nearly as good as 'Only Fools And Horses'(1981)...but not quite :-) OFAH was also written by Londoner John Sullivan. 'Dear John' is a very laid back comedy centering around divorcee John Lacey (Ralph Bates), a school teacher who joins the 1-2-1 club for divorced and separated people. There's some great characters such as macho man Kirk St.Moritz, Kate, Mrs. Arnott and the unforgettable Ralph Dring (played excellently by Peter Denyer). The club is run by the posh and snooty Louise Williams..."Were there any sexual problems?" The sitcom revolved around different people's experiences and problems being talked about at the club and the funny things that happen in life. It's a lovely sitcom and if you can get the video it's money well spent for good, clean British humour. **** out of *****