I Don't Like This Movie
P.S. I Love You
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Romantic comedy is too tragic for all-out laughs.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13–14
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of P.S. I Love You was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
Parents need to know that, contrary to what the ad campaign might have you believe, this is a somewhat sad movie that deals with loss and grief -- not a straightforward romantic comedy. Its messages -- tell the people you care about that you love them before it's too late, and live life to the fullest -- are admirable, and its characters are goodhearted. But there's a fair amount of strong language (no "f--k," though there's plenty of "s--t" and "goddamn"), some frank talk about sex, and partial nudity. The movie also seems obsessed with getting the main character, Holly, hooked up with another man, as if that's the only fix for the widowed heart.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about how this movie compares to other romantic comedies. How does the sad premise affect the overall tone? Can approaching grief with humor help make it easier to bear? Why or why not? Also, why do you think so many people expect Holly to fall in love with someone else? Do Hollywood movies perpetuate the idea that, to move on after a loss, you have to fall in love again? Is that realistic? Does the film's ending, especially the part about romance, surprise you? Why?
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More on P.S. I Love You
What’s the Story?
P.S. I LOVE YOU is a sweet and fairly moving film that somewhat convincingly traces the trajectory of grief. After her husband, Gerry (Gerard Butler), a charismatic Irishman, dies much too young of a brain tumor, Manhattan real estate broker Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank) is overcome with grief. She holes up in their apartment, watching Bette Davis movies, mooning over Gerry's pictures, wearing his clothes, and skipping her daily shower. Her sorrow virtually paralyzes her. (Crying yet?) But one day, she receives a letter that Gerry wrote to her before he passed away -- the first of many urging her to break out of her mournful shell. He insists that Holly celebrate her birthday with her friends, try karaoke, fly to Ireland (where she hooks up with the very attractive Jeffrey Dean Morgan).
Is It Any Good?
P.S. I Love You would be fine if it were a drama. But it's supposed to be a romantic comedy, a chick flick -- or at least it's been pitched that way in ads and trailers, and therein lies the problem. There's no denying Swank's talent, but let's face it: She's better off in the dramas that made her famous than in a frothy movie like this. Try as she might, she's just too serious, too -- dare we say it? -- good at emoting her sadness that she's unable to make this film much fun. (And isn't that the point of a rom-com?) Not even the presence of a comic genius like Lisa Kudrow can pull the movie out of its misery. Even the usually appealing Harry Connick Jr. is a dud here as an oddball love interest who can't hold back his often-rude observations (he has Tourette Syndrome)
It's not that P.S. I Love You doesn't have any redeeming value. On the contrary; it's entertaining enough. Director Richard LaGravenese has some fine moments; the Emerald Isle looks beautiful, indeed, and the story unfolds at a jaunty enough pace. (There's also a small, refreshing twist near the end.) But what's the deal with the stereotypes? Do all Irishmen smile, sing, and play the guitar? And enough already with Swank's abs, of which there are way too many close-ups.
Ultimately, though, it's a lightweight attempt to imbue lightness onto a dark subject. The moral of the story? Widowhood isn't funny. At least not in this film.
Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros., Director: Richard LaGravenese
Run time: 126 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/20/2007, DVD release: 5/5/2008
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual references and brief nudity.
Run time: 126 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/20/2007, DVD release: 5/5/2008
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual references and brief nudity.
Our Members Say
See 19 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title off for age 10 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
P.S. I Love You :] :]
P.S. I Love You is hands down, the best romantic movie I have seen during my lifetime of movie watching. After the death of her husband Gerry, Holly is devastated and feels like the whole world is crashing down on her but luckily, Gerry planned ahead in knowing that this would happen. To help Holly through her time of mourning, he writes a series of letters to be sent to her over the next year. Though each letter ties Holly back to her past with Gerry, it also pushes her to rediscover herself and continue to live her life to the fullest. In the end, everything that she has always dreamed of comes together and even though she misses Gerry, she realizes that his death was meant to be a new beginning in her life. This plot causes you to think everything is about to go down the drain but then, with the snap of a finger, everything seems to be looking back up and that is what I truly love about this movie! Throughout this film, the cast created great chemistry that allowed them to work together to provide spectacular entertainment for all audiences. I would honestly recommend this movie to anyone because it has different aspects that will appeal to any person.
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I rate this title on for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
"Sweet" is exactly how I would describe this movie. It was a little slow in parts, but it had a great storyline and I loved the end!! There was quite a bit of language and they went a little overboard on the sexual content/humor (or lack of), in my opinion, but there was nothing absolutely horrible. The worst part is a shot of a man's naked rear, but he just got out of the shower, it's not sexual at all. The only other thing I didn't like was how one of the characters talks about men like they're merchandise. But, I'm definitely going to run out and buy this movie because I absolutely LOVED it. Sooo... I give this movie 2 thumbs up! PS-Make sure you have tissues handy!!
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
e.g. Perfect for older kids, but not for tweens
This is probably one of the best movies ever. I love it so much.
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I rate this title off for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
You should think twice before going with your tween.
This is an excellent movie, just not for tweens or young teens. The conccepts are just to complicated for them to really understand as an adult I stuggle with them myself. And it is REALLY sad.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 33% | of parents say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking |
| 33% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 33% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
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