10 Responses to “P.S. I Love You”

1. Darren Thornton says:

   21/07/2010 at 9:58 am

   Review by Darren Thornton for Hannah Montana The Movie
   Rating:
   I can’t believe that I’m reviewing this movie! But Disney products are hard to avoid. Who else has seen several episodes of the series? It may not be Shakespeare. But the show is usually fun to watch. There should be three rules for movie adaptations of TV series. One, don’t just offer us a 90 minute episode. Two, don’t contradict what we’ve already seen on the small screen. Three, don’t make a movie that requires knowledge of the TV series. This movie mostly follows two of these rules. The plotline of the series is the same as this movie. Miley Stewart is torn between being a rock star and normal teenager. Sometimes this conflict can be overwhelming. Yet she usually makes both worlds work. The movie opens up with Miley and her best friend Lily frantically rushing to a Hannah Montana concert. I found this part a little unbelievable. By now she should know about being a professional. Also, we’ve seen Lily backstage in her own disguise as Lola. A lot of the problems with Miley/Hannah come from her new publicist. Vanessa Williams does a great job as this character. But I kept wondering why Robby Ray, Miley’s dad/manager didn’t just fire her. A later sequence suggests that the publicist doesn’t directly work for them. Miley mentions wishing that she could be Hannah all the time. Someone forgot about Disney’s wish gone wrong bit. The theme ran through several of their series. Miley, along with Raven, Zack, and Cody, wished on a shooting star. Being Hannah all the time was a nightmare. Incidentally, where is her bodyguard Roxy? Miley blows off the really important people in her life. She misses seeing her brother Jackson leave for college. (The series later had him going closer to home.) She accidentally attends Lily’s birthday party as Hannah. That was one of my biggest beefs with this movie. Some of the series actors only get cameos. Mitchel Musso and Moses Arias are two. Note: Arias’ character doesn’t know her secret. Hannah and Tyra Banks get in a fight over shoes. Then she wants to blow off her grandmother’s birthday party for an awards show. Robby Ray’s had enough. This could be the end. I imagine that he owns the Hannah character. The plane doesn’t land in New York, but back in Tennessee. Jackson’s waiting in the truck. Miley gets two weeks to detox from Hannah. During this time she reconnects with her family and old friends. There’s her horse BlueJeans. It’s too bad no one thought to include some flashbacks. We could have learned more about the Hannah back story. Brooke Shields has played her mom on the series. Her photo is shown in one scene. I have something in common with Miley. One of my grandmothers was also named Ruby. She was from Tennessee! This is her maternal one. Vicki Lawrence has played her paternal one on the series. When Miley is starting to readjust, Hannah comes back. Her home town of Crowley Corners is in financial trouble. A developer wants to change the place big time. Someone suggests a concert. She gets Lily to come help. At one point Lily even pretends to be Hannah. Later we have Miley doing some quick change bits. She’s having dinner with the friend, and mayor. Some parts of this movie do fall flat. I didn’t care much for the romances. We have Miley reconnecting with an old friend. Robby Ray also finds love. I’ve often thought that Hannah’s secret seemed too open. Her father and even hometown are well known. Various family members have mentioned it a little too openly. One episode had a lookalike cousin, also played by Miley, threaten to expose her. This movie has her grandmother mention it on a public street. Thankfully no one else was close enough to hear. The bit about the tabloid reporter seemed very silly. His having teenage daughters should have been enough for him not to touch it. There are three really good things about this movie. One, we have some nice songs. A few are done by other famous stars. It makes you wonder. Miley Stewart could do what Miley Cyrus has done. Just have two separate musical identities. She wouldn’t be the first. Ever heard of Luke the Drifter, Chris Gaines, or even Lester “Roadhog” Moran? Two, there is some beautiful scenery of Tennessee. Who else feels like paying a visit? Three, the chemistry between real-life father and daughter Cyrus is great on the big screen too. There will obviously be no sequel to this movie. The series is currently in its last season. But I hope that we haven’t seen the last of Hannah Montana. At the very least, Miley Cyrus should stay true to her youngest fans. She can mature as a performer and still stay family friendly.
2. Bradley G. Carter says:

   21/07/2010 at 9:46 am

   Review by Bradley G. Carter for Hannah Montana The Movie
   Rating:
   Hey I am A Eighteen year old male. I Went to see this movie in theaters and it was such an amazing movie Mostly Because Miley Cyrus And Billy Ray Cyrus was Great Actors. This Movie was very good for all ages. Ive been waiting for this To come out on blu-ray and everyone should definetely buy this movie you will love it!Hannah Montana: The Movie [Blu-ray]
3. Pumpkin Man says:

   21/07/2010 at 9:42 am

   Review by Pumpkin Man for Hannah Montana The Movie
   Rating:
   On April 25th, I treated myself to a double feature at my theater. I saw this and Crank: High Voltage. I’m really glad I saw this movie. I’m a 19 year old guy, and I enjoyed it! I love when she sings Let’s Get Crazy and the Hoedown Throwdown. After upsetting Lilly at her 16th Birthday party, Robby takes Miley back to Tennessee to find her true self. She meets a childhood friend from 1st grade, Travis who still has a crush on her. After having fun in Tennessee with her friends and family, Miley thinks of letting her alter ego, Hannah Montana go for good. I loved when Miley had to be two places at once. What will she choose? I highly recommend that you get crazy, get up and dance, and see HANNAH MONTANA: THE MOVIE!!!

   p.s. It’s been awesome writing 600 reviews, and can’t wait for 600 more!
   
4. Alexander M. Walker says:

   21/07/2010 at 9:41 am

   Review by Alexander M. Walker for Hannah Montana The Movie
   Rating:
   Following little more than a month on the heels of the Jonas Brothers movie, Hannah Montana: The Movie easily overshadows its predecessor while still doing little more than highlighting one of Disney’s rising stars. Hannah Montana: The Movie benefits from a decent plot which continues the television show’s story while still providing a simple plot that functions autonomously from the pre-existing Hannah Montana timeline – which was important for this reviewer. It takes its place in the long line of fish out of water films and, for what it is, delivers a watchable film for the kiddies and the parents who bought it for them.

   Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) lives a double life; in everyday life she’s a normal teenage girl going to high school and working through all the drama that brings, but with her publicist by her side she hops a limo to crowded concert halls where she performs as the pop sensation Hannah Montana. It’s an act she’s been keeping up for a few years now, and while it may not be the first time, Miley has lost sight of what’s important. After a public feud with Tyra Banks and a late arrival at her best friend’s birthday party (where she steals the show as her popular alter ego), Miley is kidnapped by her father Robby (Billy Ray Cyrus) and brother Jackson (Jason Earles) back to Crowley Corners, Tennessee to help her get back in touch with her roots. Her family members, like grandma Ruby (Margo Martindale), give her a heaping dose of country living as skuzzy tabloid reporter Oswald Granger (Peter Gunn) sneaks about in the background trying to discover the secret of Miley’s double life. But what would this movie be without a love interest for Miley? So tossed in to the mix is a rustic ranch hand Travis (Lucas Till), who teaches Miley how to love the countryside once again. The whole situation comes to a “climax” when Miley agrees to “ask” Hannah Montana to come to their sleepy little town to put on a benefit concert to save the local downtown from becoming a modern strip mall, a change advocated by Mr. Bradley (Barry Bostwick) – a storyline which just peters out with no real resolution after the big musical ending.

   It’s easily a few steps above the Jonas Brothers Concert Experience, but what is that really saying? The music of Hannah Montana is nothing special and she would have been overshadowed by Taylor Swift’s guest appearance, like the Jonas Brothers were in their own movie, had it not been for an above par square dance number somewhere in the film’s midsection. While obviously not the focus of the film, the veteran actors give the film a badly needed respectability that the younger cast really can’t bring themselves. Miley Cyrus may be a Disney-drone sweetheart, but beyond an inherited singing voice she doesn’t really have much going for her in the acting department.

   Yes, there are plot holes abound and young actors struggling to leave a good impression in the shadow of better character actors, but the kids will enjoy it and the parents won’t be numbed to the core.

   The Blu-ray factor does little to kick up the film’s quality as few moments really take advantage of the high resolution capabilities of the format. A concert in the film’s opening moments and a few sweeping country scenes look great, but otherwise you’d enjoy it just as well in standard definition – which is coincidentally included twice in the form of a supplementary DVD and digital copy. The audio does sound fantastic though, and the musical numbers do have a nice oomph. Yes, an oomph. A crisp, well balanced oomph.

   Blu-ray Extra Features:

   Once you’re done learning the dance number from the film’s hoedown scene, as taught in one of the better featurettes (because it’ll keep your kids busy), you can watch the cast learn the number in the featurette following it. Then you have the typical extras like deleted scenes, a gag reel, an audio commentary from Director Peter Chelsom and a behind the scenes piece led by co-star Jason Earles. Finally, and this is easily the more interesting for the adults, “Find Your Way Back Home” takes the stars back to their hometowns where they give the at-home audience a tour of where they grew up. Riveting? No. But it’s something.
5. Dennis A. Amith (kndy) says:

   21/07/2010 at 9:38 am

   Review by Dennis A. Amith (kndy) for Hannah Montana The Movie
   Rating:
   Since 2006, “Hannah Montana” has not only been a popular television series for the Disney Channel but a series that has definitely made Miley Cyrus, daughter of country music star Billy Ray Cyrus, a bonafide star.

   It was one thing to watch this young teenager who was 13-years old at the time, grow up and become a popular television star and music talent that would sell out many concert venues, has had her music on top of the Billboard charts and now has two Disney films under her belt.

   The first film from Disney focused on a 3D version of her concert and television show personality but this time around, “Hannah Montana: The Movie” takes to the big screen and takes a more serious look at Miley Cyrus’s character as her pop star identity has now affected her family and he friendship and has come to the point that the lifestyle of a popstar has gotten to her head.

   The film is directed by Peter Chelsom (“Shall We Dance”, “Serendipity” and “Town & Country”), a screenplay by Daniel Berendsen (“Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”, “The Cheetah Girls: One World”) , composer John Debney (“The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”, “Spider-Man 3″ and “Sin City”) and cinematographer David Hennings (“Strange Wilderness”, “Blue Crush” and “Ice Princess”).

   For those not familiar with the television series, former music artist Robby Ray Stewart (Billy Ray Cyrus) has moved his family (which include Miley, played by Miley Cyrus, and her older brother Jackson, played by Jason Earles) from Tennessee to Malibu in order to manage his daughter Miley’s music career. But in order to keep sanity at their home and keep their family together, he and Miley has kept secret identities and Miley dons a blonde wig and goes by the name Hannah Montana. Along with her best friend Lilly Truscott (Emily Osment) and friend Oliver Oken (Mitchel Musso), who also take on disguises, help protect Miley’s secret.

   In “Hannah Montana: The Movie”, the film picks up with Hannah Montana’s career doing quite well and is now managed by Vita (Vanessa Williams). While Vita is successfully booking Hannah in various, major events, the fame has kept her busy to be with family (to celebrate Jackson’s entrance to college) and Lilly’s birthday party. To make things worse, a member of the paparazzi is trying to figure out Hannah Montana’s secret.

   After Hannah ends up getting into fight with Tyra Banks over some shoes and getting plastered on the newspapers and disrupting Lilly’s birthday party by coming as Hannah Montana, Robby Ray feels that his daughter Miley can’t balance her time as a family member and friend and is focusing too much of her life as Hannah Montana and thus tricks her to going to Tennessee (instead of an award ceremony in New York).

   Hannah is not pleased that her father has tricked her and prevented her from attending the award show and is upset that he dragged her to the farmlife in Tennessee. But Robby Ray wants her to remember where she came from and that Tennessee was their home before California.

   While in Tennessee, Miley tries to adjust to the slow-paced life and meets an old friend when she was younger named Travis Brody (Lucas Till) who she becomes closer too, while her father Robby Ray gets closer to Lorelai (Melora Hardin), but with both of them having to live secret lives, can Miley or Robby Ray ever be able to have a normal life?

   “Hannah Montana: The Movie” comes with three discs. The first is the Blu-ray Disc, the second being the Digital Copy and the third is the DVD.

   VIDEO & AUDIO:

   “Hannah Montana: The Movie” is featured in 1080p High Definition with an aspect ration of 1:85:1. For the most part, the film is absolutely vibrant. There are many outdoor scenes that showcase the film’s color. May it be the shot at Lilly’s birthday party at Santa Monica Beach to the lush area of Tennessee. The film definitely showcases a broad spectrum of colors, all of which are sharp, clear and absolutely eye-popping. For the most part, David Hennings did a great job with utilizing the environment with this film and overall, picture quality is magnificent.

   As for audio, this is probably the first time I have seen Disney sport an English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack (the film is also presented in French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital). The dialogue is crystal clear and as much as this film is dialogue driven, with it also being somewhat of a musical as well, music plays a big part of this film and sounds fantastic. Definitely good utilization of surrounds to pick up crowd ambiance or the animals at the farm but for the most part, this is a film where dialogue is king and music is also a big part of the film. Thus the soundtrack is quite crystal clear, the lossless audio definitely makes the music come alive.

   As for subtitles, “Hannah Montana: The Movie is presented in English SDH, French and Spanish.

   A DVD is included and sports a widescreen (1:85:1) – enhanced for 16×9 televisions and an audio soundtrack sporting a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound soundtrack.

   SPECIAL FEATURES:

   “Hannah Montana: The Movie” features the following special features with some in 1080p High Definition or 480i Standard Definition:

   * Audio Commentary by Director Peter Chelsom – Peter Chelsom is the type of director who utilizes his commentary to thoroughly setup a scene and give credit to who came up with the ideas in pulling them off. From utilizing scenes from Miley Cyrus’s first film and inserting scenes into the film to how animals were brought in to the film and managing over a thousand extras, this is a very thorough commentary.
   
   * Deleted Scenes – (10:35) A total of four deleted scenes which features an introduction by director Peter Chelsom discussing why they were removed. But for the most part, Chelsom says the film is the final cut and mostly all footage was utilized in the film. But the four deleted scenes included are: “Jackson: I’m Pretending to Be at University…”, “How Are We Going to Get Hannah Down to Crowley Corners?”, “Oswald and the Hannah Wigs” and “Oswald, The Ostrich and the Alligator”
   
   * Music Videos – (9:30) There are a total of seven music videos included. Music videos featured are: “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus (3:52), “Back to Tennessee” by Billy Ray Cyrus (4:22), “You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home” by Miley Cyrus (3:49), “Let’s Get Crazy” by Miley Cyrus (2:59), “The Climb” (movie version) by Miley Cyrus (4:06), “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts (4:17) and “Crazier” by Taylor Swift (3:15).
   
   * The Hoedown Throwdown Home Experience – A Blu-ray exclusive only. This featurette is learning the popular dance created for the film (featured during the fundraising event and the ending credits) and features the full featurette titled “Everybody Now” (14:39) featuring how all the cast members (and crew) learned the dance by choreographer Jamal Sims. While, for those who just want to watch “how to do the dance”, they can watch the “Learn the Moves (9:47) featuring choreographer Jamal Sims with “Hannah Montana” talents Mitchel Musso and Moises Arias.
   
   * Find Your Way Back Home – (15:05) A featurette with three segments. The first features Miley Cyrus and mother Trish showing us around Franklin, Tennessee and the various shops and eateries. The second is Billy Ray Cyrus showing us Tennessee and talking about how it’s home for the Cyrus family. While the final segment features Emily Osment showing us Los Angeles and Hollywood and the key spots to visit.
   
   * I Should Have Gone to Film School with Jason Earles – (15:18) Jason Earles takes us behind-the-scenes of the “Hannah Montana: The Movie” film and introduces us to the crew and what their responsibilities are. Especially for “Best Man”, “Grip” and “Gaffer” and differences between a Assistant Director and a Director’s Assistant.
   
   * Fun with Hannah and the Gang – (3:53) The blooper reel from the film.
   
   * B Disney Live – Fans can connect with family and friends through the innovative movie-watching experience! People will need a profile 2.0 Blu-ray player to take advantage of this capability.

   JUDGMENT CALL:

   When it comes to “Hannah Montana: The Movie”, it’s almost similar to what I had to say about “The Jonas Brothers: 3-D Concert Experience” in that these films are created for their fans.

   “Hannah Montana” is a popular children’s television show with a large following and I have watched many television shows with my son and although I’m not as familiar with her music, every decade there are shows that will appeal to their young fans and many of those who scratch their heads and just don’t get why people find it so appealing. In the 80′s we had “Kids Incorporated”, in the 90′s we had “Saved By the Bell” and although Saturday morning teen shows and afternoon teen shows on network television are a thing of the past, these shows have continued on the Disney Channel and “Hannah Montana” is simply a popular series with a lot of merchandising behind the series and its star Miley Cyrus.

   And those who are not fans, they are going to criticize and those who never cared for Hannah Montana or Miley Cyrus, it’s a given that they are not going to give a care for this film.

   But how did I feel about the film? As a guy who tends to write a lot about teen or young entertainment worldwide, may it be their music or television careers, I enjoyed the film. Of course, it all comes from my knowledge of the series and knowing how quarky the television series is but also knowing the difficult the character of Miley Stewart has in juggling both worlds of a normal teenager and a pop star.

   But what I found more interesting is seeing Robby Ray stepping down and knocking Miley off her high horse. He notices that the fame is getting to her head and that if he doesn’t change things now, he’s going to lose that daughter who was always caring for her family and her friends.

   So, when it comes to the dramatic scenes, I enjoyed watching that part. As for the music, this is more geared for her fans. Obviously, with her single “The Climb” and the soundtrack of this film doing so well on the Billboard Charts, it’s quite evident that she has a strong fandom of fans that are passionate for her music. The film is not “High School Musical” and every scene is full of music and a little on drama, it’s quite the opposite where there are more acting scenes and music plays a more important part towards the second half of the film. Also, you get music from Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts and both offer an incentive to check out the film as well.

   There was a superhero-esque (or more like “Spider-Man 2″) type of storyline near the end which I won’t get into but overall, I suppose that those who have watched her television show will find out if Miley Stewart or Hannah Montana will be the last persona standing.

   For the most part, I found the film to be enjoyable, fun and it was good to see Miley Cyrus take on an emotional scene. I thought that the ending scene with the talent and film crew doing “The Hoedown Throwdown Dance” was hilarious and fun and for the most part, I’m quite confident that fans of Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana are going to have a great time with this release.

   As for the Blu-ray release, you get a ton of special features and as typical of Walt Disney Studio Home Entertainment releases, its one company where you know that their releases are going to be given absolute awesome picture and audio quality. And I can definitely tell you that this 3-Disc release will definitely be well worth it for the Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana fans.

   Overall, presentation and audio wise and the content included on this release is magnificent but as for the film, it all comes down to whether or not you are a fan of Miley Cyrus or her television show. Otherwise, if you had no care in the world for her music or the show, then you know this release is not for you. But for those who are passionate about her music and her series, then I can tell you that this Blu-ray release is highly recommended!
6. W. Kohorst says:

   21/07/2010 at 9:36 am

   Review by W. Kohorst for P.S. I Love You
   Rating:
   I had actually been dragging my feet because the movie itself was not an exact copy of the book which was wonderful. However, that said, did it matter???? No, to me, in the end, not one bit. I laughed, sighed and cried throughout the entire movie. It blew me away. I cannot wait to own this gem. there was only one man in our theater. The rest were Gerry Butler fans (yes, I can spot them a mile away) and teenage girls, who did their own share of crying and hugging after the movie. This movie hits home on many different levels. It is not just about the death of a beloved spouse, it is about the uncertainty of life and how to go on living when things do not go as you planned, how to forgive yourself if you didn’t get around to doing certain things (having children). It shows us that though marriage never goes as you planned it (or fantasized it would), that it is your life and you are in the middle of it. It’s about loving yourself and your spouse during those not so perfect times. In the end, the most important thing is how to find yourself and keep the faith after the worst possible thing has happened. Love, anger, fear, loss, and abandoment- it is all there.

   Everyone was great. Gerry brought so much energy and soul to his role! He is so damn handsome and sexy!! Oh, and to hear him sing again was an extra added bonus! Hilary was terrific and very believable- she did great playing against type. I really wasn’t sure before the movie if I would warm to Harry Connick’s character, but his off-beat Daniel was very likable and cute. Jeffrey Dean Morgan was great, too. His roles is small but important. He was very charming and has a very cute arse!!!!

   I cannot say anything negative. I loved this movie and can’t wait to see it again!!

   wendy k
   
7. Chris Pandolfi says:

   21/07/2010 at 9:27 am

   Review by Chris Pandolfi for P.S. I Love You
   Rating:
   As hopelessly contrived and predictable as “P.S. I Love You” is, it’s still a charming, touching romantic comedy. The most surprising thing about it is Hilary Swank, whose resume of serious films has made a humorous role seem an unlikely choice. She makes full use of her softer, sillier side, playing a character that’s loveable and irritating at the same time. I say this in spite of the fact that serious undertones run through the film, as they always do in romantic comedies; after losing her husband to cancer, Swank’s character spends the rest of the film trying to find herself (for lack of a non-clichéd term). The twist is that her husband is posthumously guiding her with a series of handwritten letters, all of which were so strategically located that only a well-executed plan could see it through. A sweet but nonetheless baffling idea: How could a terminally ill man carry off something this elaborate in such a short period of time?

   Never mind–I was still moved by the light-hearted sentimentality of the story, so I have to give credit where credit is due. The film opens in wintertime New York City with Holly Kennedy (Swank) storming home, absolutely furious. Right behind her is her Irish husband, Jerry (Gerard Butler), who knows he’s said something to offend Holly but doesn’t know what. It isn’t until they enter their apartment that they really let loose: Holly is offended because Jerry commented on her waiting to have children. Now back in their apartment, everything he says gets misconstrued in some way, and a full-blown fight ensues. It isn’t long before they make up, however, and by the time they do, Jerry promises his wife that he isn’t going anywhere, despite their financial troubles, despite their current job situations. After nine years, he still loves her. He’ll always love her, no matter what.

   Naturally, the very next scene takes place at his memorial service. The audience is thankfully spared the unnecessary melodrama of his failing health and eventual death; no such scenes are included in this film. The filmmakers wisely chose to focus on what happens afterwards with Holly, who–as you might have guessed–is so grief-stricken that she shuts herself off and lets herself go. It isn’t until her thirtieth birthday that things begin to change; as her worried family and friends sit by her side, a birthday cake is delivered with a mini cassette recorder taped to the inside of the box. Holly presses the Play button and hears Jerry’s voice explaining that he wrote her a series of letters as he was dying. Holly will receive them all over a period of time, and each one will instruct her to do something bold and adventurous. Basically, his words will push her into living her life without focusing so much on his death.

   The rest of the film is all about Holly fulfilling her husband’s last requests, from singing in a karaoke bar to meeting his parents back in his native Ireland (where–you guessed it–another letter waits). Her friends and family offer as much support as they can, all while engaged in their own minor subplots. Her best friend, Denise (Lisa Kudrow), is desperate to find Mr. Right, so desperate that she openly asks potential dates about their relationship status, their financial status, and their sexual orientation. Holly’s mother, Patricia (Kathy Bates), loves her daughter but has trouble accepting Jerry’s postmortem plan. She was never fully accepting of him to begin with; he and Holly married at young ages, meaning that a lot could have gone wrong. And Patricia definitely understands the pain of losing a husband (albeit under much different circumstances).

   The most interesting side character is Daniel (Harry Connick, Jr.), who works for Holly’s mother at a local bar. He claims to have a syndrome: his social filter is defective, meaning he’ll say anything to anyone at anytime. He openly tells Holly that she’s hot, that she’s a terrible singer, and that he’s getting sick of hearing about Jerry all the time. Part of the truth is obvious–he has feelings for Holly. The rest of the truth is not so clear-cut–he, too, has been deeply wounded by a past relationship. From this alone, the two are emotional matches. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they would work as a couple, especially with the inclusion of William (Jeffery Dean Morgan), the man Holly meets on her trip to Ireland. So the question is raised: Will Holly and Daniel find romance in the midst of tragedy? Will Holly allow herself to love again, or even to let her life go in a new direction?

   As fresh and exciting as I’m making this sound, the reality is that “P.S. I Love You” is a fairly routine story of love, loss, and emotional rebirth. That doesn’t make it a bad movie by any means; in all honesty, I found it quite satisfying. Most of this has to do with Hilary Swank, who impressed me with her ability to transcend the heavy-handed, solemn movie roles she’s known for. But the rest of the cast does a decent job, as well, doing justice to a well-established cinematic formula. I also appreciated the letter-writing plot point, simply because it was cleverly (if strangely) executed. Some may feel that Jerry’s letter writing is a method of control, but do you honestly think that a romantic comedy would go that far? It’s not control so much as it’s a way to nudge Holly in the right direction–I believe that, were it not for his letters, she would mourn the rest of her life. And is it any coincidence that he ends every letter with the film’s title?
8. Bennet Pomerantz says:

   21/07/2010 at 8:55 am

   Review by Bennet Pomerantz for P.S. I Love You
   Rating:
   PS I Love You is a bitersweet love story. It is one of those films which you watch with a tear in your eyes and a wisp of a smile on your face.

   Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank0 has lost her husband (300′s Gerald Butler). As she is in mourning over his loss, she recieves letters from her dead husband. From these letters, she starts to break out of her shell of widowhood.

   With the help of her Girlfriends (Gina Gersion and Lisa Kudrow) and her mom (Kathy Bates), Holly starts to live again.

   It is one of those nice romantic film to share with those you love. It is a throwback to the older 1950′s type films where words and images are more important than car chases and curse words.

   The Cast blends together so well you could believe this story is true. Swank’s Holly is so on the money, you feel her pain and joy

   This is not just another chick flix, it is a well done romantic comedy. It will tug on your heart strings..if it does, check with your doctor to make sure you have a working heart.

   I only wish there was a director or actor commentary, which there isnt. I would have enjoyed hearing someone insights on how they made this film..but it is not needed with a film this good

   Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD
   
9. R. Kyle says:

   21/07/2010 at 8:09 am

   Review by R. Kyle for P.S. I Love You
   Rating:
   The story begins with a fight. Holly (Swank) is running up a seemingly endless flight of stairs with Gerry (Butler) in hot pursuit. He’s apologizing, but like a typical male, he’s really not quite sure what he did wrong–he just wants to make up and not sleep in the bathtub.

   Nine years’ marriage and they don’t have a lot to show–no kids, no careers, and only a five flight walkup. But, it’s obvious that Holly and Gerry love each other very much.

   The next scene is Gerry’s wake. It’s a bittersweet affair–and I confess to laughing when I heard the ironic “Fairytale of New York” (Gerry’s favorite song) played and sung to by his priest.

   A few weeks’ later, the letters begin. While the film only shows Gerry’s life and Holly’s impressions of his ‘ghost’, we realize he’d understood his cancer would take him and planned to help Holly get through it past the grave. His letters encourage her to get out, sing Karaoke, even go to Ireland. Those missives literally help her find her dreams and go on with her life.

   “PS I love you” is what I expected–and more. The cast, scenery, and especially the music all fit well together to elicit tears–and yes, occasional laughter.

   Gerard Butler is fabulous as always. He’s one of the best new actors around and I hope to see him for many years to come. I didn’t expect that he could sing–and he does an excellent job on “Galway Girls.”

   In my opinion, Hillary Swank is the best part of the film. She’s not your typical Hollywood ingenue. She’s sometimes awkward, she doesn’t always look perfect, and yet her ability to convey emotions from the highs to the lows very impressive. When she comes home from the funeral alone, picks up her cell phone and just keeps calling her home phone to hear Gerry’s voice over and over on the answering machine literally brought me to tears.

   Jeffrey Dean Morgan as the big teddy bear Billy Gallagher was also great. You’ve seen him before if you watched “Grey’s Anatomy” playing Denny Duquette. I’m very glad to see him getting silver screen roles. If you like him, look for him in 2008 in “The Accidental Husband.”

   Only one warning–take some tissues with you. This film will make you cry–and occasionally laugh so hard you’ll have tears in your eyes, too.
10. Grady Harp says:

    21/07/2010 at 7:49 am

    Review by Grady Harp for P.S. I Love You
    Rating:
    Marketing P.S. I LOVE YOU was a hit/miss situation. The general trailer and the billboards seem to set the audience up for a sappy tearjerker. But happily what happens in this film is not the expected ‘widowed person communicating with the dead love out of failure to get on with life’ tale, but instead a look into the importance of friendship, family, and adjusting to the incomparable loss. Credit the original novel by Cecelia Ahern as adapted for the screen by Steven Rogers writer/director Richard LaGravenese for making what so easily have been a sappy, maudlin, whining tale into a touching one of human emotions with a sense of reality mixed with a mildly implausible situation, and a series of character studies that emphasize the importance of support in the time of grief.

    Holly (Hilary Swank) and Gerry (Gerard Butler) Kennedy are a married couple with goals and frustrations and a huge dollop of passionate love, surrounded by friends and family. The tragedy happens just as the movie starts: Gerry has died of a brain tumor leaving the copeless Holly alone with her memories and self-inflicted regrets. But Gerry, knowing he was a terminal patient, devised his own plan to help Holly through that first year of grief: he left letters in various forms and places, advising Holly how to learn about his family and how to get on with life. Holly’s mother (Kathy Bates) owns a bar and has supported her little family since Holly’s father deserted his family years ago. In the bar is another injured soul named Daniel (Harry Connick Jr.) who fancies Holly but realizes she is far from ready to think about dating. Holly’s friends Denise (Lisa Kudrow) and Sharon (Gina Gershon) accompany Holly to Gerry’s pre-planned trip to his home in Ireland to meet the in-laws Holly never knew. While in Ireland Holly reminisces on the magic of first meeting Gerry, meets Gerry’s parents as well as Gerry’s best friend William (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and through it all manages to appreciate the gift of PS I Love You letters and reminders Gerry has left for her. And she ultimately finds closure to her loss.

    The cast is strong and makes these at times strained characters into lovable people: Hilary Swank has made a successful entrance into the feminine lead role and is balanced to perfection by Butler, Morgan, Connick, Bates, Kudrow and Gershon. They make the implausible plausible and deliver a love story that goes beyond the level of superficial to join the ranks of warm and tender memorable slices of life. It is surprisingly good! Grady Harp, May 08