Not even bad in a good way

Let's be realistic.

Better Late Then Never

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

This is one of those stories that made me feel dirty watching it. Not because the subject matter was slightly perverse or startling. What I saw was a low-budget movie which never broke out of the low-budget feel. It just felt... cheap.Let's for a moment forget the fact the whole premise is a psychiatrist's worst nightmare - a person can't get over the death of their first love so let's replace that person with another (much younger) person who shares the same name and start an affair in the most awkward, look-away kind of way possible. Cougars have feelings too and I applaud anyone trying to give middle-aged woman an outlet. But why does a well-educated, attractive, intelligent divorcée think she needs to immediately "bed" (or "couch") the first incoming freshman that remotely hints at the fact she's hot? Laura Linney wearing a low-cut dress and leaning over to look at a couple slides would make any 18-year-old lose any inhibitions he would have. "Obvious" isn't the only word that springs to mind. But the way this came across was so desperate and off-the-wall it was off-putting. And the best friend on the phone... Wow, I could have put more emotion and believability into that character as a male and non-actor than that actress showed throughout the movie. The whole movie was screaming "exposition" before any real acting was taking place. People do not act or speak in real life the way they do throughout most of this movie. It was scripted and you could see/hear it over and over and over and.... Then there's the actual acting... It's billed (I believe) as somewhat of a romantic comedy. I didn't find anything romantic or funny about a near-middle-age ice queen dropping her panties for a cock-sure, jackass of a student who obviously only expected to get laid at every chance possible. At Columbia University no less. Yeah, that's what I expect when I think of the Ivy League - tenured professors ready to jump any quasi-interesting teenager at the drop of a name on an envelope. Teacher ethics mean nothing at one of our most prestigious and respected American universities I guess. You don't think an admissions officer would think twice about exchanging admission to THE IVY LEAGUE for sexual favors with a cute student??? I guess the job (or your entire education career no less) can't be that outstanding to throw it away for one very brief (and unfulfilling) affair with a student - who considers you a just "notch on his belt" anyway. Oh, yeah. That's a serious educator in my opinion... PUHHHH-leeez. Educated people are more subtle than that. Columbia deserved so much better than this.And the direction... Who funded this project, anyway? A hormone-enraged Columbia student with daddy's credit card and the hots for Laura Linney in various stages of undress??? That's what it feels like. The soundtrack came and went during the least opportune times. The editing during the phone conversations screamed "amateur" at all times. Everything seemed so scripted there was absolutely no believability to the situations. It was actors mouthing words off a page. I have seen less cardboard acting at grade school recitals about the four basic food groups. It literally felt like the writer/director was going one direction with the story, ran into a monkey wrench plot twist, and instead of naturally creating a solution, the writer/director just threw in the silliest, least inspired way to jump over the problem with a minor (re: unnecessary) character showing up out of nowhere to further the plot, then the minor character disappears until they are "magically" needed again to push our main characters along in their story to the inevitable end. Reality has no place in this script. Just "plot points". The audience needs more respect than that.Skip this movie. It really isn't worth your time. I rate it a 3 out of 10 because it shows Columbia University in beautiful lighting and I like Laura Linney and Topher Grace. Unfortunately, this wasn't close to their best efforts.

As one in a May/September romance of sorts, I expected to like this one. And I did...but only marginally. Linney's character was not strong enough to pull this one off. Also, I found that this movie thought it was being clever, when in actuality, it was out-thinking itself. It also takes itself quite seriously in its post traumatic stress disorder, shining a search light on nothing, leading the audience to nowhere, and finding its way straight into ambiguity. In five years, this work will not be remembered, and that is not a loss to the cinematic world, believe me.This work was muddled, uneven, and trite.It rates a 4.6/10 from...the Fiend :.

At first glance the premise of the movie seemed a little like Nicole Kidman's Birth, where someone who's already dead gets reincarnated into a boy who seemed to know all her/their dirty little secrets. Anyway that was my first thought when I heard about the plot outline for P.S., but that said, this story couldn't be anywhere near Birth.It's a story about second chances, and how you would choose to seize this chance to make up for what you didn't do the first time around. On a more personal note, it reminded me of what I did once, doing something which I didn't do initially, but here opportunity was presented with someone else, not as a substitute though, but it served as a catalyst to not allow things to not happen, but to take that leap of faith and give it a shot. Didn't turn out the way I wanted, but I guess I should be satisfied that I tried.Louise Harrington (Laura Linney) is head of admissions for an art faculty, and in an admission letter, noticed someone who shared a similar name as a deceased old flame. Breaking protocol, she arranges for him to meet, and soon enough, more protocol gets broken as she initiates a sexual relationship with F. Scott Feinstadt (Topher Grace). Which of course should set tongues wagging given the power of her status, about keeping persona and business separate, about that lack of professionalism and danger of mixing business with pleasure.But there are no lack of stories about a younger man falling for an older woman, and earlier this year, we've seen Uma Thuman in Prime in the same boat as well. Here though there is a distinct lack of humour and frills in storytelling, as the dry delivery befits the theme and character of Louise as she constantly, and perhaps unconsciously, pities herself and warrants the same pity from others. And it is the breaking out of this mould and mindset that keeps the narrative together in an exploration of how, despite Louise learning about how her marriage to her ex husband, Peter Harrington (Gabriel Byrne) broke down. Making matters worse is her best friend Missy's (Marcia Gay Harden) meddling into her personal business, with a revelation making you wonder why she hasn't turned into a fiend instead.I've actually watched this movie not because of Laura Linney, even though she carries this movie on her shoulders, and that her Louise character is the central figure where things revolve, and characters interact around. Rather, it's more for Topher Grace, whose performance I enjoyed in In Good Company (his character there I could relate to), and keeping in mind that he did this movie first. Next up would probably be his biggest commercial challenge yet, as he takes on the role of Eddie Brock / Venom in Spiderman 3.P.S. is actually a postscript, and here, the characters are afforded that little extra to add on to their past history, to be accorded that moment in the present, to make amends and salvage a past they are ashamed of. The pacing might be trying for some, but it still makes for satisfying viewing if you're in the same boat looking for your own P.S..

I thought it was a bad movie! Horrible in fact. You are expecting a nice love story. One about lost love, regained. One that will leave you wanting more. The plot is good, and could be good if it wasn't tidbits. It's just like little scenes with no real meaning. I don't understand the ex-husband either. They have conversations that lead no where, and the best friend will make you hate her. You will find yourself in a weird way attracted to Topher Grace, who really is not attractive but, he is somewhat sexy in the movie, same with the woman. But other than that they have no chemistry and it was a all around, Bad Movie! And I do not understand why it is called P.S.!