A Cult Classic Destined for Classic

Rating: 8/10 (16 February 2013)

For those who shy away from sentimental romantic comedies with a pinch of schmaltz, this is not for you. You will need a heart to accompany your popcorn. Based on DVD sales, online rentals, personal conversations I've overheard at coffee shops and mentions on online dating sights ... this precious gem has garnered a loyal cult following. Time will tell whether "cult" will eventually be removed and it graduates into the "classic" category.
"P.S. I Love You" refers to the sign-off the recently deceased Gerry uses (Gerard Butler) when writing a series of love letters to his wife Holly (Swank), relatively speaking, from the grave. (That's where the spoiler alert comes in). The opening scene treats us to crackling dialogue between the two loving spouses in the form of playful fighting, rapier barbs flung rapid-fire at each other containing equal bits of tease and biting truths. In other words ... marriage. It's a genuine delight to see these two fine actors in action. The salvos feel so pure and real it recalls similar in-fighting from another classic film you may have heard of, "It Happened One Night," and the snappy duels between Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.
Indeed, the film pays direct homage to the romantic classics of yore, Holly a film buff watching Bette Davis films and singing aloud to the Judy Garland torch song "The Man That Got Away."
Back to the letters. You see, shortly after the introductory 'love fight' comes a jump cut to rival all jump cuts. Gerry's funeral. Here we meet Holly's friends, family and allies. Holly's mother (Kathy Bates), her two BFFs -- Denise (Lisa Kudrow) and Sharon (Gina Gershon) and John (James Marsters, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer"). Later during the extended healing process, Holly befriends Daniel, the male parallel to Holly who's heartbreak is played exquisitely on his sleeve by Harry Connick Jr. Holly prefers to mourn alone, sulking in her apartment where her grief borders on mental illness and Gerry is resurrected in her mind like Harvey the rabbit. When mom and friends surprise her with a birthday cake, the real-life Gerry comes back into her life, first in the form of a recording he made before he died to wish her a happy birthday, knowing he won't be there. Kleenex please. Only to be followed by the romantic whopper ... a series of letters written in the same vein to Holly, with instructions for her to follow, in his sincere heartfelt attempt to ease her pain as a young widow.
Forget the Kleenex, grab a roll of paper towels and prepare yourself for the Niagra Falls of happy tears in this romantic romp that will compel you to buy a nonstop flight to Ireland.