Letters to Juliet:

Fifty years too late

Ruwini Jayawardana

Going hand in hand with the Greek proverb "The heart that loves is always young", Gary Winick's movie Letters to Juliet, despite the melodrama, will appeal to the young and old who relish romantic adventures.

Sophie Hall, a young American fact-checker for a magazine, travels to the city of Verona, home of the star crossed lover Juliet of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet fame. She is on a pre-honeymoon vacation with her fiance, Victor, who is simply enchanted by the Italian gourmet and has hardly any time to spend with her.

Left alone to explore the country's wonders on her own, Sophie joins a group of volunteers who respond to letters seeking Juliet's advice on love. Coincidentally she locates a letter that had lay hidden for nearly 50 years, unanswered. After answering the letter Sophie inspires its author, Claire, to search for her long-lost love. This journey sets them off on a chain of events which bring true love into the lives of the elderly dame as well as the young girl.

Letters to Juliet embodies some romantic charm but the conventional plot spoils its originality. It is a predictable story full of cliches. One such instance if the much-used Romeo and Juliet balcony scene which brings the two lovers together, paving way to a happy ending. Charlie's prediction of how he will not hesitate to express his love to his dream girl and sweep her off her feet rather than dally on a balcony scene forebodes the finale. There is nothing much to keep you on the edge of your seat.

It also suffers from limp dialogs. A typical rom-com, it focuses on the theme of pre-destined love. However the movie's best feature is its picture postcard locations. Kudos to the director for making use of the dazzling Italian countryside: Tuscany's verdant vineyards, Sienna's hilltops and Verona's ancient corridors, to wow the audience.

Comedy works well in the form of the misfits who share Claire's long-lost lover's name, Lorenzo Bartolini. However those are only a few instances which generate laughs.

Though the main focus is on Amanda Seyfried, it is Vanessa Redgrave who steals the show. Her heartfelt conviction and natural warmth touches the audience. Though the role is not up to her standard, she still makes the best out of it to overshadow the rest of the cast and add a touch of realism to an otherwise impractical tale.

Seyfried's role does not challenge her acting talents. Chris Egan as Claire's arrogant grandson, Charlie, annoys rather than impresses the viewers. Though his character does soften towards the middle of the tale, it has no effect on his lack of charisma.

He also over plays his posh English accent.

Letters to Juliet is a tribute to those who have faith in schoolgirl daydream fairytales. It lacks most of the ingredients which requires it to be a good movie yet it maybe a substitute for those who would love to feast their eyes on Italy's lush landscapes.