As if “The Notebook” didn’t already raise women’s romantic expectations high enough, now guys have to deal with “Dear John,” another romance flick based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, which features a more muscular, Abercrombie model-looking heartthrob in the male protagonist role.

Thanks, Hollywood.

Channing Tatum (or “Chan” as he introduced himself to me) plays John Tyree, a soldier who meets Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried) when he jumps off a dock and into water to rescue her purse. The two instantly fall for each other and stay in touch when he’s away on duty by writing letters.

Like any other bitter male, I went into my interview with Tatum and Seyfried at their downtown hotel on Thursday hoping somewhat to find a flaw in Tatum. You know, so I could tell my female friends who swooned over him in the dancy-heavy “Step Up” films that he’s an arrogant jerk, a womanizer or, at the very least, a meathead.

Unfortunately, that plan backfired.

“Chan didn’t get much sleep last night because he’s working on a website devoted to expressing love,” said Seyfried, 24, who knitted a hat while answering questions alongside Tatum. “He’s reaching out to the public to share their love stories.”

Tatum, who married his “Step-Up” co-star, Jenna Dewan, is hoping to get the website, postthelove.com, done before “Dear John” hits theaters Feb. 5.

“You can put up a poem, a youtube video of yourself singing a song or a photo of yourself with ‘I love you’ written on your hand,” said Tatum, 29. “I don’t care what it is. I just want a venue for people to express themselves.”

So much for Tatum being a meathead. The guy is just as romantic as his letter-writing character. And when I asked about his sex scene with Seyfried, Tatum didn’t call his blond co-star “smoking hot” and make the cliche “It’s a tough job…” joke. No, he had to go and make a valid argument about the cheapness of some sex scenes.
“I think sex scenes in movies take people out of the film,” Tatum said.

“It’s like, now it’s Chan and Amanda — not John and Savannah. If done right, it won’t do that. But sometimes it’s like ‘Oh my God, oh my God, Angelina Jolie is naked.’ ”

(Seyfried, on the other hand, joked “I think they’re fun — I take advantage of them.”)

Tatum — as sensitive as he might be — still manages to give off a likeable guy’s guy vibe. He’s worked in construction, has a few future Spike TV movies to his name, including “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” and “Fighting,” and practices mixed martial arts in his basement, according to his cover story in this month’s “Details.”

He was also self-depreciating during our 15-minute conversation, but only a little because there’s only so much Chan could depreciate.

When Seyfried called Tatum a better kisser than her “Jennifer’s Body” co-star Megan Fox, Tatum sheepishly responded “It’s because she likes guys.”

According to Seyfried, that was only part of the reason.

“I prefer being intimate with males,” she said. “And the kiss with Megan was very technical. There were extreme close-ups of tongue and lips — maybe too much — but it was kind of necessary for the movie. With Chan, they were romantic kisses. I felt more comfortable doing it with Chan than I did with Megan. That’s for sure.”