LETTERS TO JULIET 3.0****

To begin with, “yes” this is a “chick flick” of a high degree, and “yes” it is rather predictable, and “yes” its an on-the-sweet side for a Romantic Comedy. But theres nothing wrong with any of that when the film turns out to be a beautiful, easy going , “feel-good” experience and a wonderful travelogue for the beauty of Italy, especially Verona and Tuscany.
In "Letters to Juliet" Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) goes on a pre-honeymoon trip with her fiancé restaurateur and chef Victor. It turns out this is more of a business trip for Victor and she’s left alone a lot. While in Verona, Sophie discovers and partners with the Secretaries of Juliet. They are the group of women who write letters back to the women, many heartbroken, who travel from around the world to leave their letters to Juliet at the famous balcony wall from Shakespeare's play. Sophie finds a letter from a lady named Claire hidden in the wall since 1957. Sophie is compelled to write her. After waiting more than fifty years, Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) is amazed to get a response to her long-ago letter and immediately travels to Italy and Verona with her handsome grandson Charlie (Chris Egan) to see just who Juliet is. What happens next is where the adventure begins as Sophie, Claire, and Charlie go on a quest to find Lorenzo Bartolini, the man Claire had fell in love with 50 years ago and left him without a goodbye.

The Italian landscape is itself a wonderful part of the story. This film is almost like a travelogue a since major part of the film involves Sophie, Charlie, and Claire driving around the countryside and villages looking for Lorenzo.

I admit that I love doe-eyed women, and Amanda Seyfried fits the bill. Her eyes just grab you and swallow you up. Here, Seyfried is very natural and quite appealing in her role as Sophie. Vanessa Redgrave is the real surprise though…. she is simply awesome as Claire. She is utterly charming and projects a commanding screen presence. She personifies wisdom and emotion in a way that feels dignified and real. An added charm is that Claire and Sophie develop a kind of a mother-daughter relationship, which I found poignant.

“Letters to Juliet" is a innocent and heartfelt movie about love, and about the wonder of “true love”, and if you don't expect too much from it, you will find yourself enjoying it. What you’ll also get is a “feel good” experience that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy.

Clark