Holly also meets up with one of Gerry’s old mates while inIreland, and he becomes a second man in her life. She’s already been spending some time with Daniel Connelly(Harry Connick, Jr.), an odd character, but one who becomes a good friend. Slowly, very slowly, Holly starts tocome back to life, just like Gerry hoped she would do.
Holly’s support system includes friends Denise (Lisa Kudrow)and Sharon (Gina Gershon). They goto Ireland with her, and it’s the revelation that Denise is engaged andSharon’s pregnant that finally helps to shake Holly out of at least some of herlethargy. Their lives are going on;why shouldn’t hers?
As noted above, Swank doesn’t seem all that comfortable withcomedy, and that fits well with Holly’s awkwardness. (Actually, maybe Swank’s just fine and it’s goodacting.) Butler appears in anynumber of flashbacks and fantasies, and you can’t help but love Gerry. The rest of the cast is solid,including Connick, who’s stuck with the worst, strangest character.
The film is based on a fictional book of the same name byCecelia Ahern, and one featurette is an extended interview with her that alsofunctions as a bit of a making-of. Other features are a James Blunt music video with scenes from the filmand a featurette explaining how to play the game Snaps, which figures in onefairly short scene in the film. There are also several deleted scenes, including one very affectingscene when Gerry goes into a travel agency to arrange Holly’s trip toIreland. We never seen Gerry sickin the film itself, and that may be why this scene was cut; it’s easier tothink of him healthy and happy than to see him in the end stages of hisillness.
Spoken (Dolby 5.1 Surround) language and subtitle optionsare English, French and Spanish. There’s some lovely (and some rowdy) music here, too. Oh, and some gorgeous Irish scenery.
P.S. I Love You (how Gerry’s letters to Holly always end) is about how all-encompassing lovecan be, and how hard grief can be to overcome. It’s also about trusting in yourself and letting your realself come out. It’s sweet, andmaybe it’s cloying at times, but sometimes that’s just what you need!
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