PS I Love You film review

certificate_12A

PS I LOVE YOU

Hilary Swank reunites with the writer and director of her 2006 hit Freedom Writers, Richard LaGravenese, in this romantic drama that in other hands could have been a rather dreary affair. However, thanks to an effusive cast the end result is an appealing film which is sure to score well with its female target demographic.

Swank stars as Holly Kennedy, a young wife who in the opening scene of the film has a protracted stand up argument with her husband Gerry (Gerard Butler). But shortly after Gerry dies - it's not too much of a secret to give away - and she has lost the love of her life.

Holly is naturally devastated, but her loss is partially softened by the fact that Gerry has left her a number of letters with instructions for her on how to get through the grieving process - all naturally finishing with the PS I Love You of the title.

The instructions see Holly picking up the pieces of her life, culminating in a trip to Ireland, Gerry's native land. It's the kind of film that shouldn't really work as well as it does, but the quality of the cast as well as the script keep it engaging and touching in parts.

Swank's co-stars include Kathy Bates as her mother, Lisa Kudrow and Gina Gershon as her friends, and an excellent Harry Connick Jr as a potential new suitor. It's not as morbid as it sounds either, as despite its deathly nature there are plenty of humorous moments. All in all it's a successful feelgood movie about death, which is not an easy trick to pull off.

Paul Hurley