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P.S. I Love You
(DVD)
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Reviewed By: Mathew Plale

Director: Richard LaGravenese

Actors:
Hilary Swank
Gerard Butler
Lisa Kudrow

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WHAT'S IT ABOUT?

After her husband (Butler) passes on, Holly (Swank) starts receiving letters from him, all written to help her through the process.

IS IT A GOOD MOVIE?

I have the same questions for Hilary Swank after seeing P.S. I Love You as I did with Freedom Writers, also written and directed by Richard LaGravenese: Why is a two-time Oscar winner playing it so safe? And how does a lowly web-based DVD critic get her agent fired?

The rest of the cast (save Kathy Bates, who plays Swank’s widowed mother, and Gerard Butler, shedding his sword and sandals) belong in this movie. The supporting cast is lined with the expected romance heroes, klutzes, and best friends, played by Harry Connick, Jr., Lisa Kudrow, and Gina Gershon.

Co-written by LaGravenese and Steve Rogers and based on the novel by Ireland-born Cecelia Ahern, P.S. I Love You is sure to rip at each and every heartstring at this week’s Girls Night In (that’s where the two stars comes from), all in thanks to a schmaltzy soundtrack and Jerry Maguire--esque moments (that are ten times as sappy in Butler’s Irish accent).

After her husband Gerry’s (Butler) premature death, Holly (Swank) introverts, spending her nights screeching along to Judy Garland movies in her hubbie’s underwear…until her 30th birthday, when she receives the first in a series of letters from beyond-the-grave, promptly sending Holly on the kind of goose-chase designated for the romantics on Valentine’s Day. Gerry’s final wishes—and there are many—aim to ease Holly of her grief, sending her to karaoke bars and, of course, Ireland.

And that’s about it—as well as a lot of crying, romantic speeches, and contrived plot points. Maybe it’s because I’m a guy, or because I’m young, but the idea of reading morbid notes from an ex-lover is about as creepy as it gets…I’d much rather invest the $59.98 in a Staples paper shredder.

VIDEO/AUDIO

Video: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen and Full Screen.

Audio: Dolby Digital Surround 5.1 (English, French, Spanish).

Both aspects are about as good as you'd expect for a movie like this.

THE EXTRAS

A Conversation with Cecelia Ahem (7:30): More of a making-of than just a conversation with the author, on-set footage mixes with cast/crew interviews to give an inside look at the evolution of the project.

The Name of the Game is Snaps (4:48): This is an awfully weird faux-promo for ‘Snaps’, a game played briefly in P.S. I Love You.

Additional Scenes (12:34): There are a few here, all of which are long and were likely cut for time purposes, even though the feature itself is over two hours.

And a James Blunt Music Video.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

Females: You'll love it.

Males: Bar night.

DVD RATING SYSTEM