Letters to Juliet

When Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), a fact checker and aspiring writer for the New Yorker and her fiance Victor (Gael Garcia Bernal) head to Italy for a pre-wedding honeymoon love is in the air. But, before long the two end up on different agendas and by total chance Sophie discovers the famed balcony where Juliet supposedly called to Romeo. At said balcony those with questions of love often write letters to Juliet and post them on a wall, similar to the way children write letters to Santa. The difference being, letters to Juliet are often answered by “the Secretaries of Juliet,” a group of women who gather each night to answer as many questions of love as possible. Intrigued, when Sophie discovers a long lost letter to Juliet, the opportunity to respond as one of the  is hers for the taking. Surprisingly, her 50 year late response is just what Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) needed to return to Italy and find her lost love. With the help of Sophie and her grandson Charlie (Christopher Egan), Claire sets out to find her soul mate. But is she too late,  how will Sophie and Charlie get along, and what of Sophie’s fiance? A simple and predictable  romantic dramedy with enough pathos to actually merit some attention. While the overall story telegraphs every twist and turn and leaves little room for the imagination, the acting between Redgrave and Seyfried is actually something to make note of and comes across as touching at several points. Cliche soundtrack choices could have been better picked and are almost a little insulting at times. Regardless, fans of romantic films might actually find something that isn’t too sickly sweet or trying too hard to be funny but instead an endearing story of never ending love. Perhaps a matinee. Letters to Juliet is rated PG.