LETTERS TO JULIET
(PG)
MOVIE: **** (out of 5)
BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: *** (out of 5)
BY KEVIN CARR
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Before she gets married, Claire (Amanda Seyfried) and her fiancé travel to Verona, Italy for a last hurrah. While he is checking out new foods for his restaurant, she goes exploring on her own. Soon, she stumbles across the location where lovers write letters to Juliet Capulet, and she gets to know the women who write back to those who have written the letters. Claire finds a 50-year-old letter and responds. Soon, that letter’s author comes to Italy to find her long, lost lover, taking Claire along with her on the adventure. Also tagging along is her skeptical grandson who soon takes a liking to Claire.
WHAT I LIKED
This film was one of those movies that flew under many people’s radar, but I really enjoyed it, despite the fact that I am a red-blooded American male. A lot of this is due to the fact that Amanda Seyfried is thoroughly charming throughout the film. And merge her with the equally charming Vanessa Redgrave, and you’ve got a brilliant combination.
Seyfried carries the film and makes the audience fall in love with her. It’s a sweet story without any huge conflict, but it works so well as a road film. And it doesn’t hurt having the film take place against the beautiful landscape of Verona, Italy.
On the whole, “Letters to Juliet” makes a perfect date movie, with a nice blend of romance and light-hearted comedy.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
There really isn’t anything that gave me much of a problem with this movie. In fact, the only wrinkle is with Claire’s fiancé, who is set up to be loving but completely aloof. This is a construct of the writing, so when Claire starts to have eyes for another man, it doesn’t seem so much like cheating.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
The Blu-ray includes deleted and extended scenes along with a commentary featuring Amanda Seyfried and director Gary Winick. There’s also two featurettes: “The making of Letters to Juliet: In Italia” and “A Courtyard in Verona,” which gives the history of the real location where people really write letters to Juliet Capulet.
The Blu-ray also includes a copy of the DVD on the flip side.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Couples on a date and anyone who thinks Amanda Seyfried is just adorable.