‘P.S. I Love You’ digs deep

This isn’t your everyday love story.

One of the parties involved is dead before the opening credits even roll. Even with the odds against it this is one of the most intensely romantic movies ever made (if you’re not a complete love cynic).

Hillary Swank is neither Meg Ryan nor Mandy Moore when it comes to being cutesy. Her pure conviction as an actress won’t allow her conformity to such a character, so a script involving laughter and affection must have more depth than, say, “The Heartbreak Kid.”

“P.S. I Love You” digs deep and lends a whole new appreciation of love.

Holly (Swank) and Gerry Kennedy (Gerard Butler of “300” fame who’s sure to have legions of ladies following his every move now) have been married for 10 years. They have that infectious love, that, “shut up and kiss me” type of love. The couple is discussing having children and the next thing you know Gerry has passed away from a brain tumor.

Enter several flashbacks (it is based on a book). Gerry leaves a series of letters to be delivered at precise times. At first the central premise might seem strange. Isn’t it morbid and selfish for this man to leave any posthumous correspondence? Shouldn’t he let her let him go? Just give it a minute and you will see how much you appreciate this reverse look at love.

The Irish countryside and New York’s Little Italy present breathtaking backdrops as Holly follows her letters/clues that lead her with the ultimate destination of finding herself and letting him go. A few weeks after Gerry’s death, Holly is dealing with the grief by taking in old Bette Davis flicks and singing alongside Judy Garland. In the middle of one of her “numbers” her mother (the marvelous Kathy Bates), and two best friends, Denise (Lisa Kudrow will have your sides splitting) and Sharon (Gina Gershon) walk in to surprise her for her 30th birthday. The first letter is delivered and it instructs her to go out on the town with her girlfriends and have fun. In his Irish accent Butler delivers these messages with a levity that makes listening a joy. They will eventually stop coming, but at the right time — this gent was a planner!

In her sometimes splendid, sometimes somber travels Holly meets a couple of men who can’t ever replace her soul mate but qualify for some sort of companionship. Having Harry Connick Jr. in your cast is always a luxury. As a bartender in a pub Holly’s mom owns, he doles out not so pc advice, only adding another layer to this comedy cake. He delivers a dead accurate “what do women want” soliloquy and makes eating a corned beef hash sandwich look sexy. Add ex-“Grey’s Anatomy” hunk Jeffrey Dean Morgan and the eye candy hits overload.

Swank’s sex appeal is stretched to the limit with this passion-laden material. Her strong jaw line and six-pack abs are atypical, but the two-time Oscar winner somehow pulls it off with a superb script by Richard LaGravenese (“Beloved, “The Horse Whisperer”) and top-shelf cast.

There’s been a lot of negative buzz surrounding this release. In 1990 “Ghost” opened and was widely panned — the local critic at the time gave it a D. Imagine how many people skipped it. It would be a tragedy to miss this one as well.

Adrienne Mackey writes freelance movie reviews for the Green Valley News.

The details

3/4 Stars

Comedy / Drama / Romance

Run time: 2 hours, 6 minutes.

Rated PG for sexual references and brief nudity.

Starring: Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow, Gina Gershon.

Written by: Richard LaGravenese & Steven Rogers.

Directed by: Richard LaGravenese.