Film: P.S: I Love You
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Richard LaGravenese
Principal actors: Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow, Gina Gershon, Kathy Bates, Harry Connick Jr.
Release date: December 2007 (in Theatres)
Film length: 126 min
Rating: PG-13 

4 ½ Stars 

Reviewed by Isabel Lau (Vancouver Correspondent- Canada)

Some people, men and women included, may read a movie title such as "P.S.: I Love You" and immediately cast it aside to the pile of cheesy Notebook type films that could easily be passed up. Being a love-skeptic myself, I would have probably made the same serious mistake. Thank the stars I did not! This film was one of the best romantic comedies I have seen in years. Everything from the smart and witty dialogue to the ravishing shots of New York and Ireland were perfectly captivated to convey a realistic, heart breaking yet hopeful love story.  

Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank) is a recent 30-year old widow to a charismatic singing Irish man named Gerry (Gerard Butler) whom she had been married to since the age of 19. Although they certainly had typical marriage issues to deal with that consisted of the money and when-to-have-babies variety, they had been truly in love with each other. The movie starts off with one of these heated arguments followed by a kiss-and-make-up scene. Admittedly I did not immediately buy into their on screen chemistry due to Gerry's exaggerated proclamations of love after ten years of marriage. However, as the story unfolds and Gerry dies from a brain tumor, the heart wrenching flashbacks that Holly has of their relationship emit an indisputable love affair.

After hibernating from reality for weeks in her unclean apartment and watching black and white movies while singing and wearing Gerry's clothes like a crazy cat-lady (minus the cats) Holly receives the first letter out of ten that Gerry had wrote before he died and planned for her to open starting on her 30^th birthday. With the help of her sister and friends who include Denise (Lisa Kudrow), Sharon (Gina Gershon), John (James Marsters) and Daniel (Harry Connick Jr.), Holly attempts to deal with her loss. Holly's mother, Patricia (Kathy Bates) has never whole-heartedly approved of Gerry and indicates her concern that Holly cannot move forward by living from letter to letter from her dead husband. Holly continues abiding by what the letters tell her to do (one delegation consisting of an embarrassing and reminiscent karaoke scene) even though it is at the expense of Daniel who becomes infatuated with her. In one of the letters, Gerry has planned a trip to Ireland for Holly and her friends. Holly meets a handsome singing Irishman and winds up in a sticky yet sexy situation with him. She returns to New York and attempts to put the pieces of her life back together again while learning to let go of the past.  

I cannot imagine any normal human that did not have drenched shirtsleeves or had gone through at least a few tissues within twenty minutes of the film. Although it does tug at one's heartstrings, P.S.: I Love You also includes very funny scenes with Lisa Kudrow and Harry Connick Jr. as well as insightful dialogue from Gina Gershon, Kathy Bates and Gerard Butler. The film, beautifully shot from the cramped and narrow New York apartment hallways to the sweeping green landscapes of Ireland, definitely added to its inspiring influence. It will have one chuckling and crying on a 126-minute emotional rollercoaster like a good romantic comedy should. Hilary Swank delivers a fantastic performance of a heart broken and slightly neurotic character that many females could relate to. Butler is charming and provides a truly memorable role that will hopefully have him on the silver screen again soon. Even the soundtrack is great ear candy with tracks by Paolo Nutini, James Blunt and a haunting cover of P.S.: I love you by Nellie McKay who, by the way, plays a small role as Holly's sister. Not a movie to be missed, especially now that it is out on DVD and one can enjoy it in the privacy of their own home where they do not have to hide their sniffling noses or blame flying pieces of dust for their suddenly watering eyes.