Just in time for Valentine's Day, Netflix dropped To All the Boys I've Loved Before: P.S. I Still Love You. The second installment of the Jenny Han book trilogy. The first movie (Just named To All the Boys I've Loved Before) took the world by storm. Making the actors, like Noah Centineo, a household name. He had the "whoa whoa whoa" heard round the world. This time around was different, we left off at the end of the first movie with Lara Jean (played by Lana Condor) and Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) confirm that both like each other and want to date for real.
Lara Jean is on cloud 9 with Peter until she receives a letter in the mail from John Ambrose McLaren (one of the recipients of her love letters in the first movie). A beautiful note from an even more beautiful man (Jordan Fisher). Lara Jean struggles with the idea of writing him back until she just so happens to be volunteering at the same ultra-chic, retirement home as him! The movie follows LJ as she has to decide whats best the BF she has now or the long ago love that has come back into her life.
Let me start of by saying, I adored the first movie. Like, watched it a million times, loved this movie. And I was so super excited to see the second one. But unfortunately, I was thoroughly disappointed. First, Lana Condor's Lara Jean had a subtle air of confidence about her. But, in this one her confidence wasn't there. And I understand, you have a new boyfriend who is the golden, popular boy of the school. But, she was so strong and I wish we could've seen more of that.
Second, the first movie did a great job at keeping a steady timeline. The banners in the hallway would read the month so you could follow along. But, in this movie, the time periods were defined by things that were happening. They covered off on Valentine's Day and then I heard someone say it was March in another scene. So I'm assuming the movie happened over the course of two or three months? But, who knows for sure.
The timeline brings me to my last big point. The change in director. The first movie felt light, sweet, and exciting. This one felt darker and lost the air of a fluffy love movie. During the middle of the film (where LJ has a random music video moment in the middle of the school hallway), I googled the director and noticed Susan Johnson directed the first movie and Michael Fimognari directed the second and third (the third coming out later this year). Of course every director has a different style but in this case, the first movie formula worked so well. And it felt like this time around it lost it's magic.
I will say the best part of the movie was Jordan Fisher, I was super cute and super sweet. Everything about him was amazing. And if you really want to cry, look at the Instagram video of him proposing to his now fiancee. Her name is Ellie Woods (cute I know!) and they are the cutest together.
I wish there was more I could say about this movie. But, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, PS I Still Love You, left a lot to be desired. I hope the last movie of the trilogy will bring back the magic. And I hope Jordan Fisher is in it so I can see his smile!
5/10
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