It's like this: The sequel to Netflix's wildly popular teen rom-com, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, is releasing just in time for Valentine's Day and it's like a love letter come to life all over again. When To All the Boys I've Loved Before, based on Jenny Han's novel of the same name, debuted in August 2018, Netflix struck gold with the winning combination of Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor), Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) and the film's modern spin on classic teen and romance movie tropes. To All the Boys quickly solidified its status as a modern classic romantic comedy, but Han's original novel was the first in a trilogy surrounding Lara Jean's love life. Now, the next installment comes to life. To All the Boys: P.S. I still Love You dives deeper into the complexities of young love, with just as much humor and sweetness - and even more charm.
P.S. I Still Love You picks up after the happily ever after ending of To All the Boys, in which Lara Jean and Peter began officially dating. But real life isn't a fairytale and, in reality, the story continues on. Much of P.S. I Still Love You deals with this concept of fantasy versus reality, as the hopeless romantic in Lara Jean is confronted by the imperfections of a real relationship. To make matters more complicated, a new fairytale ending is presented in the form of John Ambrose McClaren (Jordan Fisher), another recipient of one of her love letters - one who doesn't seem to have any imperfections. Ultimately, Lara Jean must choose between Peter and John Ambrose, but the choice is really between living in the real world, flaws and all, or trying to chase the fairytale ending.
In that way, P.S. I Still Love You excellently and naturally builds off the story of To All the Boys, continuing to depict Lara Jean's coming of age as she learns the difference between fantasy and reality when it comes to love and relationships. The script for P.S. I Still Love You, penned by returning writer Sofia Alvarez and J. Mills Goodloe (Everything, Everything), recaptures the incredibly important voice of Lara Jean. The sequel leans less on voiceover to immerse viewers in Lara Jean's innermost thoughts and feelings, showing a maturity in allowing Michael Fimognari's directing the actors' performances to do more of the heavy lifting. The voiceovers are still a throughline of P.S. I Still Love You, delivered by Condor with a warm conviction that builds a best friend-like intimacy between her character and the viewer. But just as Lara Jean is growing up, the story of P.S. I Still Love You evolves as well, even as it maintains what fans love about this character, that she's open and honest and sweetly earnest.
As such, it should come as little surprise that the true glue of To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You's cast is Condor, who plays the conflicted hopeless romantic Lara Jean to perfection. Lara Jean's story in P.S. I Still Love You is one of shedding the naivety of childhood and making the decisions that will pave the way for what kind of adult she's going to become, and Condor's skillful performance showcases every emotion of her character's arc, from silly to heartbroken, grabbing viewers by the hand and pulling them along for the ride. But, of course, Condor's Lara Jean is being wooed by Peter K. and John Ambrose, and P.S. I Still Love You truly spoils audiences with lovable romantic interests. Centineo returns as the ever charming Peter Kavinsky, though he falls a little into the background in P.S. I Still Love - partially by design. His spot is usurped by Fisher's John Ambrose, who's charming in his own awkwardly earnest way. Between the script and the performances of Condor, Centineo and Fisher, P.S. I Still Love You smartly avoids a trite love triangle. Instead giving viewers a romantic comedy that feels both escapist and entirely grounded in reality.
In many ways, P.S. I Still Love You feels like its own love letter to To All the Boys I've Loved Before and Han's novels even as it expands the world and attempts to tell its own story. Fimognari, who served as cinematographer on the first movie, takes over as director from Susan Johnson, replicating the soft and warm visual style that so perfectly fits Lara Jean's character, while putting his own spin on P.S. I Still Love You. The sequel also keeps Lara Jean's family and Korean heritage front and center, introducing a subplot in which the youngest sister Kitty (Anna Cathcart) decides to set their father Dr. Covey (John Corbett) up with their neighbor Trina (Sarayu Blue). Like the first film, the soundtrack is fantastic (and this time features a popular K-pop song!). The movie even manages to introduce aspects from the books To All the Boys breezed past, like Lara Jean's baking and her friend Stormy (Holland Taylor). Altogether, P.S. I Still Love You is a little overstuffed, but at its core is a heartfelt story about growing up and first love. While it may be a little messy, the same can surely be said of love itself.
Perfect for fans of the first movie, P.S. I Still Love You makes for an excellent double feature with To All the Boys I've Loved Before, and the sequel's release just before Valentine's Day couldn't be more well-timed. Netflix may very well have another hit on their hands, especially with the addition of Fisher, whose John Ambrose will win over even the most loyal Peter K. fans. But Lara Jean's choice between Peter and John Ambrose in P.S. I Still Love You isn't as simple as picking between two boys, it's about recognizing the difference between fantasy and reality, something people of all ages can struggle with. To that end, P.S. I Still Love You may ostensibly be a rom-com about young love, but Lara Jean's story is one that viewers of all ages can relate to and enjoy. Much like its main character, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is so sweetly, openly earnest in its love of love that it transcends cheesiness and gives viewers permission to indulge in unabashed intimacy and romance for its entire one hour and 40-minute runtime.
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is now streaming on Netflix. It is 102 minutes long.
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