Letters to Juliet (2010)

Even though I’d read a plot synopsis of this before seeing a trailer, all I remember when it was released was how much charm it exuded; it practically radiated through the screen - literally. The innocence in the story’s notion is, for the most part, missing from American cinemas today, which is why, when one does come along, audiences often prove critics wrong and make a modest if not blockbuster hit of the respective title. In this version, critics didn’t bash this as they so readily have in the past. Whatever the reason I’m pleased, since this is one of the most charismatic films to appear in a while. 

An aspiring journalist hoping for her chance while working as a “fact-checker” (albeit the best one her boss has) at a major newspaper, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is about to leave on a pre-honeymoon with her fiancé, Victor (Gael García Bernal). Since he is in the process of opening his own restaurant, which is taking up much of his time, they decide to go away before the wedding, and even though she is warned not to let him push her aside in place of restaurant business while in Italy, Sophie somehow finds herself taking second place to Victor’s important food and wine tastings. It’s during one of her sight-seeing trips alone that she happens upon the famed wall under Juliet’s balcony where women from all over the world come to write and leave letters for Juliet, asking for answers to their many love queries. Finding the time without Victor lonesome, Sophie becomes interested in this society and joins Juliet’s “secretaries” in writing back to those that provide addresses. During the gathering of the missives, Sophie finds a 50-year-old letter tucked beneath a loose stone, from a girl torn between her true love and her family… she chose the latter, something that broke her young heart. Deciding to write back, little did Sophie realize her reply would bring the woman, Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) to Verona with a newfound passion for re-discovering her lost love, all because of Sophie’s words.

Just starting out, much of this movies charm is due to its being set and filmed in such a lovely location – after all, who doesn’t dream of someday visiting the lovely European cities?  Some of you will find the story implausible, or at the very least too “sappy” for their tastes, but even though the “getting there” part may be a bit unrealistic, the premise was sweet; two people who had met and fell in love fifty years ago may still be in love, if they would ever meet again. (And that is where the real impossibility enters.) It’s made moderately believable by the two lovers having moved on with their life in those fifty years, and while it’s never said in so many words, I never got the impression that Claire or Lorenzo pined over the love that was lost to them the entire time they were living different lives. Instead they raised their families and stored memories… even if their spouses weren’t their soul mates. Being partly a “journey” story, both figuratively and literally, things can be a bit slow, but never boring. A number of the songs are adorable and suit this production well; particularly country-darling Taylor Swift’s hit “Loves Story” – a song has never suited a motion picture so well and not been written specifically  for it. Locations are gorgeous, most especially a sweet scene in which Charlie and Sophie are lying out under the stars (so what if the sky was fake). This scene may also be considered a bit awkward seeing as it’s an unspoken realization for the two of them, but then it was likely a surprise to both.

Acting was superb; Amanda gives the leading lady the sweet innocence that her Sophie needed, while newcomer Christopher played well opposite her, even when their personalities didn’t immediately match (one of those instant meetings where sparks fly; even when it’s a hate-before-fallling-in-love kind of introductions). No matter their clichéd relationship, I found it adorable, even when the conclusion might be categorized as “sappy” or at the very least, seen as paying homage to the tragic love story in the titular name; it leaves you with nothing but a smile. Meanwhile Vanessa Redgrave was fantastic after not having any major roles in recent years, the only minor complaint was her being older than her character was meant to be, even still, she gave the role a practical approach (especially in her handful of scenes with Franco Nero, her real-life love). She and Amanda’s scenes together were precious and emotional. Suffice to say, I loved how everything melded and concluded… and was only disappointed there wasn’t a little more to it. Director Gary Winick is the name behind two of my favorite chick flicks, so it rather surprised me that this didn’t take the film to that final almost “epilogue-like” scene. However, the conclusion is such a fairy-tale lovers dream, well, all is forgiven.

Call the premise what you will – fantasy, dreamy, impossible, only don’t degrade or argue the fact that this is exactly what it promoted itself as, and set out to be: charming.

(Fortunately, this never abuses its rating. A couple suggestive implications pop up, but nothing dreadful; a passing reference is made about making “passionate love.” Sophie and Victor apparently live together, and we see they share a room together in Italy; there are a few plunging necklines. Although I don’t recall there may be a brief scattered profanities like some British slang. Seeing as Victor is a restaurateur, wine tastings are prevalent, and I cannot remember a meal that didn’t involve a glass of wine of some sort. The film is rated PG.)

Categories: Amanda Seyfried, Drama, Movie, Review, Romance

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