An Absolute Tear-Jerker for the hardest of people.

Rating: 8/10 (16 March 2017)

I am usually not a fan of "chick flicks" and I absolutely avoid anything lumped under the category of "rom-com". But this movie defies all odds. I first watched a little of PS I LOVE you when it aired on TV, and got completely sucked in. Now, I cry every.single.time I watch it, and it's been quite a few times. May I also note this is NOT a romantic comedy, despite what it's categorised under. There are a few comic relief moments, but even those are usually "smile through tears" moments.
I think this movie works so well because of how well the actors played their parts. Hilary Swank! Wow! As the grieving widow Holly, she is absolutely fantastic. Her grief was so real, every time she cried, I cried. And it wasn't constant over the top "I'm so distraught" moments, it was moments of silent tears leaking out of her eyes as the pain of never seeing her husband again and missing him so much, shatter her heart over and over again. And with minimal expression, you can see this in her face. And then when the letters start arriving and she reflects on their past life together, and all around her friends and family and the world are moving on with life, and she is stuck, consumed in grief feeling so alone. In one scene she actually does run to her mother in hysterics, unable to breath and gasping how alone she is. It was truly heart-breaking, as it's the one moment she actually cracks and all the emotions just come tumbling down on her. I don't think anyone could have played this role as well as Hilary Swank did. She made her character so realistic and believable. Gerard Butler who plays the husband Gerry also does a pretty good job as the sexy Irish man who loves his wife so so very much, and out of his irrevocable love for her, wants to make sure his wife moves on with her life after he is gone. You truly invest in their relationship, presented to us by the letters, ghost memories and flashback scenes to how Holly and Gerry first met. And made stronger of course by how powerfully Holly grieves the loss of Gerry.
Cathy Bates also does an astounding job as the tough, yet loving mother, who even though she has been through her own pain in the past, still stands as a rock for Holly. I also really enjoyed Lisa Kudrow who plays the funny and loyal friend to Holly. The only actor who annoyed me was Harry Connick Jr, or more so his character. He had a part to play in the story I suppose, but most of the time I wish he wasn't there, as some awkward and not funny scenes could have been avoided.
All in all, I recommend giving this movie a go. There has been numerous negative reviews that you should avoid and just watch the movie and make your own judgement. From someone who loves her slasher and thriller films, and thought the popular sob-fest love story The Notebook was corny and unimpressive, P.S I Love You left me pleasantly surprised after the first of many viewings, and always with tear stained cheeks.