Letters to Juliet

Sophie Hall (Amanda Seyfried), an aspiring magazine writer, travels to the romantic city of Verona in Italy with her boyfriend restaurateur, Victor (Gael Garcia Bernal), on a pre-wedding honeymoon—home of the star-crossed lover Juliet Capulet from the classic story of Romeo and Juliet.  She joins a group of volunteers who are responding to letters to Juliet seeking advice about love. After she answers a letter dated 1957, she inspires its author, Claire Smith (Vanessa Redgrave), to find her long-lost love in Italy, and thru events more love is brought into their lives than they could ever imagine.

Best known for her breakout role in the hit musical Mamma Mia, and more recently in Chloe, Amanda Seyfried is obviously choosing romantic roles based on major Hollywood co-stars and not on plots. Unfortunately, Letters to Juliet is a bit too light-hearted, and the life lessons learned by the characters are simplistic and predictable, such as true love is not easily won and that it takes courage to deal with love. The whole film also has a rather superficial male perspective, when really it should have been dominated by a female opinion.

Although the story doesn’t have any tension in it scenes, which would have added a bit of spice, the beautiful photography and Vanessa Redgrave’s elegance and grace make up for the flawed story, and she is the only actor who brings the film to life. Vanessa Redgrave is charming and wise as Claire, a woman who has lived a full life of happiness and sorrow, and who encourages Charlie to follow his heart, not wait 50 years like she has. Director Gary Winick has previously had lighter comedies, such as the fun 13 Going On 30, but here he is limited with the plot. However, there are the expected food and wine tastings, and some heated scenes between Sophie and Charlie, makes the film an escaping romance which should be popular with women, young or old. As Sophie writes a story about Claire’s quest she immediately gains the respect of her boss (Oliver Platt) and an improbably secure writing gig, while Charlie’s declaration of love as he climbs to Sophie’s balcony includes a vow to drop his law practice and follow her to New York, a city he despises.

I don’t know whether audiences will find enough interest in the plot and the actors, so I don’t expect a big return at the Box Office. The Italian music, long drives through the countryside and a few genuinely amusing moments make the film cheerful and fun, such as when someone pretends to be Redgrave’s once-and-future lover. Seeing a pair of lovestruck senior citizens reunite pushes the last part of the film in a happy direction, and those who are looking for just a basic charming romantic story will certainly be enjoy the pleasures of escape.

Letters to Juliet • Dolby® Digital surround sound in select theatres • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 • Running Time: 105 minutes • MPAA Rating: PG for brief rude behavior, some language and incidental smoking. • Distributed by Summit Entertainment