In the sequel to Netflix´s teen romance smash hit, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is slightly less satisfying as a film than its predecessor. However, fans of the first are likely to still find plenty to love in character development and storylines for these very likable characters that is a perfect watch for the Valentine’s Day season.
P.S. I Still Love You follows Lara Jean (Lana Condor) as she begins a relationship with Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo). But after John Ambrose (Jordan Fisher), who received one of her letters, re-enters her life, Lara Jean begins to question whether or not Peter is the best match for her.
The biggest detriment to this film is that it solely relies on a typical love triangle rather than having an interesting angle that the letters provided to the first film. Unfortunately, this causes the sequel to feel like it’s missing some edge. It falls into many of the trappings of every run-of-the-mill romantic comedy that’s been seen hundreds of times before, rather than feeling like something new and different as the first film did.
Unfortunately, the comparison that immediately sprung to mind was the later Twilight films. It feels like the characters of Peter and John Ambrose are being positioned in a Team Edward v. Team Jacob sort of way. That’s not to say that the character of Lara Jean ever loses her agency in the same way Kristen Stewart´s Bella did. But rather the situations feel very parallel to one another.
On a positive note, the film is almost entirely saved by the actor´s performances, particularly Condor as Lara Jean. She maintains the same sweet innocence and character as the first film, which works well in the film´s favor, as it would have been easy to have her suddenly become the popular girl or cheerleader-type. Centineo is a little less likable here than in the previous film, but still feels charming, allowing the audience to completely understand Lara Jean’s attraction toward him.
But the true standout is newcomer Fisher as John Ambrose. If not for his portrayal of the character, this love triangle would not have been pulled off as successfully as it was. Because of his charisma and likability, it makes the situation feel more plausible and believable than what the audience may expect. More importantly, the film makes the audience feel like maybe Lara Jean should be with John Ambrose rather than Peter, which is an impressive feat given Centineo´s charisma and charm. This main trio plays off each other incredibly well, and it will be interesting to see where this dynamic is taken in the third and final film of the series, which is already in development over at Netflix.
The tertiary characters also continue to provide a lot of humor, particularly Lara Jean´s younger sister, who is against excellently portrayed by young star Anna Cathcart. But several characters receive more development of their own, including Peter´s ex-girlfriend Madeleine Arthur´s Chris and Lara Jean´s bestie Emilija Baranac´s Genevieve. After the first film, it feels this cast plays off each other’s personalities and performances really well, which only adds to the warmth of the film. There are a few additional newcomers, but Holland Taylor´s Stormy, an elderly woman at the retirement community where Lara Jean volunteers, blows them all away. Her performance is hysterical, balancing both the maturity and light-heartedness of Lara Jean´s situation.
If you are a fan of the first film, chances are you will enjoy this sequel just as much. It’s a perfectly funny and heartwarming romantic comedy. While some plot beats may feel predictable and retreaded from other films, the actors’ performances and writing still manage to make it feel unique and like a truly warranted sequel.
Grade: 3 / 5 Woo’s
Directed: Michael Fimognari
Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo & Jordan Fisher
Release Date: February 12, 2020
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