Destined to play sisters, Hilary Swank and Jennifer Garner take turns grieving the sudden death of a number-one loved one in teary romantic comedies. In last year’s “Catch and Release” Garner finds love-of-her-life number two in her number one shoulder-to-lean-on. In “P.S. I Love You” Swank’s number one shoulder is a rebounder who tilts the plot towards a not-so-pat denouement. The secret life of a deceased betrothed leaks unpleasant surprises for Garner’s character, while here the Irish late spouse of Swank’s character sends letters, presents and even Aer Lingus tickets from the beyond—all arranged in advance from his hospital bed in his last days. He even schedules a singing leprechaun to deliver greetings on her thirtieth birthday. An underemployed actor snaps at the widow that he was once in “an off-Broadway play with Al-fuckin’-Pacino.” Swank’s Holly gets some retro screwball banter, but director Richard LaGravenese falters by channeling the late Audrey Hepburn to do Holly’s hair and pick her outfits. Singer-songwriter Nellie McKay is a cheery goof as Holly’s under-used younger sister. The character who makes the film click, though, is played by singer Harry Connick, Jr. Every line he gets from LaGravenese and co-writer Steven Rogers is darkly comic. Undiplomatic in an endearingly dysfunctional way, he offers the widow Holly an oasis of honesty and that essential shoulder. Mostly shot in Brooklyn, this adequate date movie is blessed with Emerald Isle scenery. The story comes from the 2004 novel by Cecelia Ahern, the daughter of Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Bertie Ahern. With Gerard Butler, Kathy Bates, Lisa Kudrow and Gina Gershon. 126m. (Bill Stamets)
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Destined to play sisters, Hilary Swank and Jennifer Garner take turns grieving the sudden death of a number-one loved one in teary romantic comedies. In last year’s “Catch and Release” Garner finds love-of-her-life number two in her number one shoulder-to-lean-on. In “P.S. I Love You” Swank’s number one shoulder is a rebounder who tilts the plot towards a not-so-pat denouement. The secret life of a deceased betrothed leaks unpleasant surprises for Garner’s character, while here the Irish late spouse of Swank’s character sends letters, presents and even Aer Lingus tickets from the beyond—all arranged in advance from his hospital bed in his last days. He even schedules a singing leprechaun to deliver greetings on her thirtieth birthday. An underemployed actor snaps at the widow that he was once in “an off-Broadway play with Al-fuckin’-Pacino.” Swank’s Holly gets some retro screwball banter, but director Richard LaGravenese falters by channeling the late Audrey Hepburn to do Holly’s hair and pick her outfits. Singer-songwriter Nellie McKay is a cheery goof as Holly’s under-used younger sister. The character who makes the film click, though, is played by singer Harry Connick, Jr. Every line he gets from LaGravenese and co-writer Steven Rogers is darkly comic. Undiplomatic in an endearingly dysfunctional way, he offers the widow Holly an oasis of honesty and that essential shoulder. Mostly shot in Brooklyn, this adequate date movie is blessed with Emerald Isle scenery. The story comes from the 2004 novel by Cecelia Ahern, the daughter of Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Bertie Ahern. With Gerard Butler, Kathy Bates, Lisa Kudrow and Gina Gershon. 126m. (Bill Stamets)
