Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

P.S. I Love You is not really a romantic comedy.  It's very romantic, and there's quite a bit of comedy in it, but mostly it's a drama.  With some very sad, tear-jerking scenes.  I think people should know this, going into the movie, so they're not disappointed to find it's not your typical "feel-good romantic comedy".

Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler are Holly and Gerry, your typical married couple.  Much in love, but struggling over such divisive issues as money and whether to have children, they bicker as any married couple does.  Yet, underneath it all, there's a definite love there, and you can see that they're in it for the long haul.  Except, they're not going to get the chance.  Because the second scene of the movie is Gerry's funeral.  A brain tumor has taken him way too early, leaving Holly a young widow.

Gerry knew Holly would have a hard time moving on, so he spent his last days concocting an elaborate scheme, which becomes clear to Holly a few weeks later, on her 30th birthday.  A cake and a letter arrive - from Gerry.  It seems that he has pre-arranged to have letters sent to her at various times over the next year.  The letters arrive at unexpected times, and in unexpected manners, but they always ask her to do something.  Something that ultimately will help her move forward.  And they always end the same way, "P.S. I love you". 

Also helping Holly move on are her friends played by Lisa Kudrow, Gina Gershon, and James Marsters.  And her mother played by Kathy Bates.  Harry Connick Jr. and Jeffrey Dean Morgan are around, too, as potential new love interests. 

Despite its overall sad theme, there is quite a bit of humor in this movie.  Through flashbacks we watch as Holly and Gerry meet, and fall in love.  And we see snippets of their life together, always with Gerry able to put a smile on Holly's face, through his loving (and often delightfully humorous) antics.  And Lisa Kudrow provides a few laughs as well, as a single woman always looking for a good man (and her interview "process" for fleshing out the good ones).

But, mostly, it's a serious theme, one of the grieving process, and the ways in which well-meaning friends and family members attempt to help the person, although they may do more harm than good.  For instance, Holly's mother never really liked Gerry, and doesn't approve of this whole letters-from-the-grave thing.  She would be just as happy if Holly tossed the letters without even reading them, and thinks Holly really needs to "get on with her life".  Her friends, also, seem to think that they know exactly when "enough" time has passed for Holly to grieve.  I hated that everyone felt they had a right to tell Holly when to stop grieving.  A woman facing widowhood at 30 needs to be given as much time as she feels she needs, before she can "move forward".  No one else should be looking at their calendars and deciding what's right for her. 

Other than this one issue, the only other part of this movie I didn't like was the sister's role.  Yes, Holly has a sister, even though I didn't name her as one of the people supporting Holly.  That's because the sister's role is completely useless.  I have no idea why she's included in the movie - she does nothing and adds nothing to the movie. 

Otherwise, I found the movie to be quite enjoyable.  With good performances from all of the leads, and the right mix of humor and sadness.  And, finally, an ending that satisfies, without being sickeningly sweet, or overly predictable.  It's rated PG-13, but I think this movie is best for adults, as teens would probably be bored.

Recommended: Yes