P.S. I Love You (2007)

A young widow discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life.

Director:

Richard LaGravenese

Writers:

Richard LaGravenese (screenplay), Steven Rogers (screenplay),

Stars:

Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hilary Swank	...	Holly
Gerard Butler	...	Gerry
Lisa Kudrow	...	Denise
Gina Gershon	...	Sharon
James Marsters	...	John
Kathy Bates	...	Patricia
Harry Connick Jr.	...	Daniel
Nellie McKay	...	Ciara
Jeffrey Dean Morgan	...	William
Christopher Whalen	...	George
Dean Winters	...	Tom
Anne Kent	...	Rose Kennedy
Brian McGrath	...	Martin Kennedy
Sherie Rene Scott	...	Barbara
Susan Blackwell	...	Vicky

Storyline

Holly Kennedy is beautiful, smart and married to the love of her life - a passionate, funny, and impetuous Irishman named Gerry. So when Gerry's life is taken by an illness, it takes the life out of Holly. The only one who can help her is the person who is no longer there. Nobody knows Holly better than Gerry. So it's a good thing he planned ahead. Before he died, Gerry wrote Holly a series of letters that will guide her, not only through her grief, but in rediscovering herself. The first message arrives on Holly's 30th birthday in the form of a cake, and to her utter shock, a tape recording from Gerry, who proceeds to tell her to get out and "celebrate herself". In the weeks and months that follow, more letters from Gerry are delivered in surprising ways, each sending her on a new adventure and each signing off in the same way; P.S. I Love You. Holly's mother and best friends begin to worry that Gerry's letters are keeping Holly tied to the past, but in fact, each letter is pushing ...

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Plot Keywords:

letter | birthday | friendship | widow | flirting | 

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Taglines:

His life ended. Now, a new one will begin.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual references and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp] Warner Bros. [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

P.S. Volim te

Filming Locations:

County Wicklow, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£224,096 (UK) (21 December 2007)

Gross:

$53,680,848 (USA) (7 March 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alcon Entertainment, Grosvenor Park Productions, Wendy Finerman Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Holly Kennedy, played by Hilary Swank, tries to choose between different job options, one of them is vampire slayer. Another character in this movie, John McCarthy, is played by James Marsters, who also is the famous vampire Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Hilary Swank also played a supporting character named Kimberly Hannah in the movie version of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". Gerard Butler also played the vampire Dracula in _"Dracula 2000" (2000)_.

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Goofs

During the dinner with her mother, Holly is setting the table and when she reaches to put something on the table you can see her dress is torn at the armpit. Her sister then sits at the table and when she stretches again to hand her something, it is fixed.

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Quotes

Patricia: [to guy working the bar] Take a break, will you?
Holly Kennedy: Mom?
Patricia: What's the matter?
Holly Kennedy: [crying] When daddy left, I was fourteen, and I said... That's it, never again, no man. And then I meet Gerry. This wonderful man happens to me and then, and then he died! What was the point?
Patricia: I know.
Holly Kennedy: I'm so angry I could kill somebody. I'm alone, and it doesn't matter what job I have or what I do or what I don't do or what friends I have, he's not here. I mean, you're alone, no matter what.
Patricia: That's right.
Holly Kennedy: [still crying] God. I...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

This film is dedicated in loving memory of Windland Smith Rice 1970 - 2005

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Episode dated 22 December 2007 (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Same Mistake"
Written by James Blunt
Performed by James Blunt
Courtesy of Custard/Atlantic Recording Corporation
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

P.S. Move On

In a poignant scene Gerald Butler's spirit of Gerry confesses to Hilary Swank's Holly, "I'm not asking you to remember me…" and to move on. Although being a little too long, Writer and Director Richard LaGravenese's "P.S. I Love You" is a whimsical and surprisingly touching romantic comedy about life continuing forward. Swank and LaGravenese have collaborated before on "Freedom Writers" as evidenced in the movie's comfortable and sturdy feel. Hilary Swank is great in this romantic comedy, an edgy departure for the actor. Swank thrives--she never forces the humor, completely natural. She embodies a humanity and spirit in Holly that makes her vulnerable and funny in the story's context. Gerald Bulter is boldly charming as Holly's late husband Gerry, the Irishman full of life and dreams. Swank and Butler have a wondrous chemistry that smooths out the rougher edges of LaGravenese and Steve Rogers screenplay based on the novel by Wendy Finerman.

Even with its over wrought indulgences, "P.S. I Love You" rewards the narrative payoff. Wisely on the part of LaGravenese and Rogers, the catharsis opts for the lyrical and realm of possibility. The performances are stellar. Academy Award Winner Kathy Bates is awesome as Holly's mother Patricia. Seeing fellow Oscar Winner Swank and Bates together is truly something special. There is a heartbreaking scene where Swank's Holly breaks down to her mother saying, "I'm alone!" Later Bates's Patrica says to her daughter, "…If you're all alone, we're all together with you in that, too." So even with its intentional quirks and cheesy trappings-- all is forgiven, because ultimately "P.S. I Love You" is about the courage to love again and live life.

As "P.S" opens Holly is furious that Gerry told her mother at dinner that they are not planning on having kids right now. Although accurate, Holly is still livid. Holly laments that she is waiting for her life to start. Gerry reminds, "We are in life…" Transparent to us: Gerry and Holly are soul mates—the great love of each other's life. Fast forward several months, Gerry has died of a brain tumor. After the wake, Holly discovers that Gerry has arranged for the delivery of his letters all making requests of Holly. Unable or perhaps unwilling to move on after her loss, this may not be the best thing for Holly. Or is it a way for Holly to discover life anew?

Much of the movie's charm derives from Holly's trip to Gerry's Irish homeland, and her loyal friends. Lisa Kudrow plays Denise, Holly's gal pal who is crassly determined to hunt down a single, straight, and employed man—a crusade seemingly more difficult than it seems. Kudrow is at her scattered and hysterical best. Hot and sexy Gina Gershon plays other gal pal Sharon. Gershon is deceivingly strong and smart with the apparently vapid Sharon, who really possesses a depth of character. In a surprising moment in what initially feels like a frivolously long fishing scene with all three women, reminds Holly that her friends are moving on with their lives. Holly's trip to Ireland is a beautiful interlude that represents an eloquent return to the traditional and solid. Here LaGravenese brilliantly orchestrates his story of love everlasting and regret. Hilary Swank amazingly balances the suffering and resolute spirit in Holly. She too is brilliant and absolutely beautiful. Her smile just lights up your soul, and her anguish strikes an emotional chord. Gerald Butler is at his charismatic best. Butler also expertly tempers his charm with a touching and gentle compassion.

"P.S. I Love You" is one of the best romantic comedies in a long while, that has a great love story. Richard LaGravenese tells a wistful and touching tale with amazing performances and chemistry by Hilary Swank and Gerald Butler. Take a chance on "P.S. I Love You".