To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You Review
Image courtesy of https://www.latimes.com/
By Kat Kaderabek
Star-crossed lovers Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky have returned to the Netflix big screen with a second installment of the To All The Boys movie series. After ending up together in the final moments of the first movie, Lara Jean and Peter are officially dating and have begun navigating their status as a real couple at the start of the second movie.
The plot of the second movie centers around Lara Jean’s insecurity in her current relationship with Peter, and the reemergence of her childhood crush John Ambrose McClaren. McClaren is presented as a potential love interest for the protagonist. John Ambrose is played by actor and performer, Jordan Fisher, and does an amazing job at playing the nice, affectionate guy who treats Lara Jean correctly in opposition to the sweet but inconsistent Peter Kavinsky, played by Noah Centineo.
The cast includes the multi-faceted characters from the previous movie, such as the best friend Chris and Lara Jean’s loving dad. It also introduces several new supporting characters including Stormy, a wild and racy widow who lives at the nursing home where Lara Jean volunteers, and Trina Rothschild, a potential love interest for Lara’s dad, Dr. Covey.
While John Ambrose was the newest main character, he seemed rather dull throughout the movie. He exemplified the epitome of a “nice boy” and nothing more. There were very little flaws within his character or his role in the story, making him a static character instead of the other dynamic personalities within the movie, including Lara Jean herself.
The movie was rather cliché, and for that reason the plot was disappointing. The classic case of the amazing, new guy pitted against the already-loved but mistake-making crowd favorite ends exactly as the audience expected it.
Regardless of the unoriginal plot, the dialogue and scenes within the movie were unique. John Ambrose and Lara Jean’s encounters are distinctive, and there was an additional plot element between Lara Jean and former best friend Gen that was unexpected and touching. But overall, this second movie’s plot was expected and predictable, which was unlike the refreshing plot of the first movie.
This fact does not take away from the enjoyment of watching the film. This addition to Lara Jean’s story was just as visually appealing and relatable as the previous film.
The cinematography of the film was as stellar as usual. The cohesion between lighting, set design, and the camera angles create scenes that are dynamic and visually stimulating. The transition between scenes flowed nicely and kept the narrative moving where the plot stalled.
The movie ended conclusively, and can even be watched as a stand-alone movie itself. However, Netflix has already announced that there will be a third addition to this movie franchise.
To All The Boys: Always and Forever Lara Jean is the official title of the next film and Netflix has confirmed that the movie has already been filmed. However, an official release date has yet to be confirmed, but critics are guessing August or September of 2020 for the final installment.
It is very unclear where the plot could go next, since everything seems rather solidified in terms of character development and plot. Another movie could risk falling into a series of cliches, just as this second movie did.
Overall, the second installment was a short and sweet sequel to the first movie. While the first movie remains supreme, it was nice to see the beloved quirky and hilarious characters back in action for another installment in the series.
