The Films of Richard LaGravenese

Living Out Loud

Freedom Writers

P.S. I Love You (January 28/10)

Based on the novel by Cecelia Ahern, P.S. I Love You follows flighty twentysomething Holly (Hilary Swank) as she attempts to cope with the sudden death of her husband (Gerard Butler's Gerry) by completing a series of tasks he concocted before succumbing to cancer. There's little doubt that a large part of P.S. I Love You's success is due to the palpable connection between Swank and Butler's respective characters, as filmmaker Richard LaGravenese effectively establishes Holly and Gerry's relationship with an engrossing pre-credits, stand-alone sequence in which the couple argue (and make-up) following a family dinner. It's consequently not surprising to note that the movie is generally at its best when the two actors are sharing the screen; however, the ease with which LaGravenese cultivates a pleasantly laid-back atmosphere ensures that the remainder of the proceedings fares (almost) as well. The narrative's deliberate pace - coupled with a slightly overlong running time - ultimately prevents P.S. I Love You from possessing as consistently enthralling an atmosphere as one might've liked, although it's worth noting that the inclusion of several progressively poignant moments (ie Holly has a heartfelt chat with her mother) more than compensates for the movie's sporadically uneven sensibilities. The incredibly upbeat finale - in which virtually every single character receives their own little happy ending - cements P.S. I Love You's place as a consistently watchable romantic comedy that's certainly a far cry from its underwhelming brethren, with Swank's winning work matched by an impressive supporting cast that includes Harry Connick Jr, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Kathy Bates (yet it's clearly Butler who walks away with the title of MVP).