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P.S. I Love You
Posted: Dec 20, 2007 in Movies
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What do you get when you stick a talented, interesting cast in an uninspiring chick flick?
Short answer: "P.S. I Love You."
Longer answer: You get Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Gina Gershon, Kathy Bates, Harry Connick Jr. and Jeffrey Dean Morgan in an overlong melodrama built from the ground up to produce just-below-the-surface tears, not tap into real emotion.
On the plus side, you also get Lisa Kudrow. Combined with her underrated work in HBO's "The Comeback," Kudrow is proving to have the most satisfying career of any of the former Friends. She's hilarious as a man-hungry friend of Swank's, the funniest -- and best -- thing about the movie.
Swank plays Holly Kennedy, who is married to Gerry (Butler). We're meant to think of them as having one of those storybook romances that nothing, not even death, can conquer. Gerry's death, caused by a brain tumor a few minutes into the film, drives the point home, in case you missed it.
We haven't heard the last from Gerry, you see. Over the course of her first year as a widow, Holly receives letters from Gerry, written before he died, instructing her on how to get over him. So, she is soon out on the town with her pals, singing karaoke, visiting Ireland (Gerry was Irish), where she finds temporary comfort in the arms of Gerry's best friend (Morgan, working an Irish accent), throwing out Gerry's clothes, whatever.
We also haven't seen the last of Gerry; he shows up in flashbacks all the time, often arguing with Holly. Oh, they argue "cute," of course, but still. Adding to the oddness is Connick as Daniel, a fellow who works in Holly's mom's bar and suffers from some sort of malady that renders him incapable of filtering his thoughts before he utters them. So we learn early on how he feels about Holly (see if you can guess).
At more than two hours, "P.S. I Love You" takes a long time to get where it's going, which isn't all that far. It's not that it's an out-and-out bad movie. It's just not a memorable one.
Bill Goodykoontz / Gannett News Service
I have to disagree with Bill on this one. He seems to dislike the genre of fluffy/teary chick flicks rather than this particular one. I admit it's an acquired taste, but this is a fairly good example, imho. A bit too long perhaps.
I give it 2.5 stars out of four.
It's hard for critics sometimes to disconnect themselves from genres they don't like, I've found. I have a particular disdain for most romantic comedies, yet I tend to give them more positive reviews than I want to, because I try to judge it using the conventions established by the genre-more of a "as romcoms go, how is this one?" If I didn't, I'd give most of them terrible reviews.
Of course, I think that's not always the best way to do things either, because I've given positive reviews to romcoms like "Because I Said So" and "Monster-in-Law," which are both movies I have looked back on and said "why in the world did I do that?"
Nothing like critic hindsight.
Just returned from watching this movie. I expected it to be a complete "chick flick" but it was too well developed to call it that...and not as "happy" as I had expected it to be. While not typically someone who sheds a tear at movies, I shed many at this one. Hillary Swank did a great job -- surprisingly, she was perfect for the role. Really pulls you in emotionally - and makes the character seem like a "real" person.
The only thing I would change about the whole movie -- nix Lisa Kudrow and Harry Conick, Jr. Not a fan of Lisa (can she act outside of her Friends role??) I love Harry - but his character wasn't someone I could even imagine the main character being attracted to. No charm...kinda freaky, actually.
It is an enjoyable movie, tho! Just have tissues ready.
I just thought this movie was just a little too long, and too many subplots to make this movie less than what it could have been. "LESS IS MORE" And I think this movie really would have been much better if it stuck with that. And Harry Conick Jr. character was way too creepy! And why would Hilary Swank go for a creepy guy after what she just had?! Kathy Bates gets lost in this movie as well.
Not my favorite movie, not my least favorite either....it is just floating around somewhere in the middle. Not a DVD buy but is worth a few hours of time.