Talking Pictures

Rich Bonaduce reviews “Letters to Juliet”

Rich’s Quickie: Maybe not a classic, but it’s also not Leap Year, either.

Letters: Surprise guys; when your young lady drags you to this one you may NOT want to slit your wrists. Letters was shot on location and the scenery lends to the romantic groove of the film, and star Amanda Seyfried is earnest in her portrayal of Sophie, a young lady somewhat adrift in her own love life while helping to steer others on that same stormy sea. There may not be many surprises here, but Letters has a sense of itself that keeps it from being too corny; there are times when Letters could walk right off the balcony, but it quickly catches itself before the fall. And when veteran Vanessa Redgrave shows up for the second act, the movie really finds its footing and leads you into its satisfying third act.

Scribble: The script is not without its scrawl. In the first act, Seyfried’s character comes off as a spoiled brat who understand the difference between traveling for business or pleasure, and who also can’t seem to have a good time in Italy without her man on her arm 24/7. And possibly because of that, the next acts are devoted to showing just how lousy her current overworking boyfriend Victor is (played by Gael García Bernal), paving the way for her to be okay with falling for Charlie (played by Christopher Egan). Apparently, all you need to do to win a woman these days (if we are to believe this and other movies such as Leap Year), is spend a few days with her in a foreign country, and try to treat her badly at first.

Movie Grade: B-

Rated PG for brief rude behavior, some language and incidental smoking.

Directed by: Gary Winick
Jose Rivera (written by) and Tim Sullivan (written by)

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