Rated: PG  
Distributor: Alliance Entertainment

A word of caution: this film will cause sniffles.     

There hasn’t been a good romance ala Mills and Boon made for the girls. So when something like P.S. I Love You comes along, all women, especially younger ones looking for love, should get their hands on a copy.       

Based on Irish writer Cecelia Ahern’s best-selling novel (she wrote it when she was only 21), P.S. I Love You rises above the average chick flick; it’s a sophisticated number that will make you dream of finding a guy like Gerry (Gerard Butler).

Hilary Swank plays Holly Kennedy, a young and recently-widowed New Yorker. Unable to cope with the unexpected loss of her husband Gerry, the grieving Holly mopes around at home, and hallucinates that her husband is still with her. Knowing that she will be consumed with grief, Gerry has left behind letters that are sent to her periodically to help her get her life back on track. The mysterious letters come with instructions, which range from helping her find a new guy to travelling to a little town in Ireland where they met and fell in love. Through those letters, we see flashbacks of how deeply in love the couple were.      

Director Richard LaGravenese, whom Swank worked with in Freedom Writers, knows how to use his lead actress well. This may not be another Oscar-winning performance from Swank, but she is adorable as the needy Holly. Plus, she looks great in those to-die-for clothes and shoes. LaGravenese has also recruited seasoned thespians, like Kathy Bates, who plays Holly’s mother, Lisa Kudrow and Gina Gershon as Holly’s best friends, and Harry Connick Jr as Holly’s potential love interest, who add the necessary depth to this bittersweet romance.       

Despite his minimal screen time, Butler commands your attention every time he appears. Women who were already smitten with Butler in the testosterone-driven 300 will fall in love with his softer, humorous, cheeky and generous side. It’s no wonder Swank’s character fell head over heels in love with him at first sight. There are no extras in this disc. -Joanne Soh