PS : I Love You - A Review

I have watched this movie thrice. And I will watch it again should there be a fourth time.


This is a love story between Holly (Hilary Swank) and Gerry (Gerald Butler). They were a couple who fought everyday about petty issues until, one day, Gerry died of brain tumour. After his death, Holly withdraw herself into her own world, worrying her mother Patricia (Kathy Bates) and her best friends Denise (Lisa Kudrow) and Sharon (Gina Gherson). Then, a cake from Gerry arrived at Holly's doorsteps. Gerry arranged to send her a series of gifts and letters after his death and this was the first of them. All the letters and gifts were signed "PS I love you". His letters were in fact tasks and assignments that send Holly out of her withdrawal stage and into adventures. However, Patricia, Denise and Sharon were worried that these post-humous letters might tie Holly to the past. But Gerry was a smart man. He even arranged a trip to his native Ireland for Holly, Denise and Sharon. They met William (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) who happened to had a crush on Holly and also Gerry's childhood friend. After the trip, Holly enrolled herself into a course and ventured into the shoe designing business. She also learned that her mother was the one delivering those letters all this while. The movie ended with Holly moving on with her life.


This movie was based on a novel by Cecelia Ahern of the same name. I have not read the book. But the whole idea of the story was touching enough to make me cry. (Yes, I am a hopelessly romantic girl) I find the whole couple fighting thing in the movie interesting and very loving. Quarreling and making up was like the fun of their love-hate relationship. And the flashbacks that made the audience felt that as if Gerry was there with us too. I particularly like the words Gerry used, the way he was so familiar with his wife, right-down to her reactions and actions to the letters. I love how Gerry encouraged and guided his wife to move on with life but at the same time did not shove her out in the world. I also love the loyalty, though unhealthy, shown by Holly to her husband. It was totally irony that Holly and William ended up in bed, talking about Gerry after a brief one night stand. And I love the whole Daniel character who was a bit rough but caring at the same time. I don't know if such sweet love exist in this world, but this movie which is soaked up in total romantic excesses actually made me feel emotional watching it because chances are, this won't happen in my life. ( I secretly think a lot of people are attracted to this movie because of this also.)


The soundtrack of the movie is fantastic. It used a combination of instrumental music and pop songs at the exact right moments. The scenery was wonderful. Really a visual feast. The movie was filmed in Ireland and part of it in New York. The angles of the scenes were artistic and very nicely arranged. I should send my compliments to the entire production team and the director because I feel that the teamwork between filming and post-production really made this movie fits in nicely with all the emotions, the visual and the audio. The casts were amazing too. Kathy Bates, again, picked up her role as a strong maternal figure quite nicely. Hilary Swank put down her usual iron lady image in Million Dollar Babe and Freedom Writer to become this widow in distress. What amazed me most was Gerald Butler. He is really a versatile actor. He is convincing as an action hero like Chuck Norris and equally convincing in romantic movies like Hugh Grant. In fact, I think Gerald Butler did a better job than Hugh Grant in romantic movies! (Look at this one and also Ugly Truth)


Ratings : 8/10. Very touching. Appeals to audience who loves romantic movies. Girls, this will be your dream romantic life (minus the fact of a dead husband). Guys, this should be a movie you learn from on how to treat girlfriends and wifes (with or without your death!)