In 2018, Netflix released its sugar-sweet “To All The Boys I Loved Before.” The movie went viral so naturally the adaptation of its sequel, “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” quickly followed. The story picks up immediately after its predecessor. Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter (Noah Centineo) called their fake relationship quits to try it for real. But things get complicated when another recipient of one of Lara Jean’s infamous love letters, John Ambrose (Jordan Fisher), comes back into the picture. Lara Jean finds herself in quite the love triangle.
Condor’s and Centineo’s solid chemistry carries over from the last film. There’s something about Condor’s sweet introvert and Centineo’s jock with a heart of gold that work together. They both have an effortless charm about them that makes them easy to watch. Centineo’s career has taken off a bit more than Condor’s, but she’s the one that deserves a moment in the spotlight. There’s a level of sincerity to her performance that makes her irresistible. She has the makings of a future indie movie leading lady ahead of her, similar to the likes of Zooey Deschanel.
Centineo may have skyrocketed to heartthrob status from the first film, but he’s outshone by Fisher in this film. Maybe it’s because he’s the shiny new object in Lara Jean’s life, and we’re seeing him through that lens, but he just has a spark that Centineo simply doesn’t. While Lara Jean and Peter make a sweet pair, we can’t help but root for more shared screen time with Fisher and Condor. The film has a solid supporting cast, but they are pushed further in the background than they were for the first movie.
The acting is solid in “To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You,” but the story is lacking a bit. The crux of the plot is Lara Jean’s feelings for both Peter and John Ambrose. The pacing is just completely off though. With either more tension between the three of them, or more time with Lara Jean focusing on getting to know John Ambrose, the story would’ve felt more balanced. Instead, the climax of the film was over before it really ever began.
Overall, “To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” is worth a watch. It’s fun, sweet and light. As long as you aren’t looking for anything too substantial, this isn’t one to pass up.
