April 3, 2020
By Alexa Torres
Editor
Dear Viewers,
I hope this article finds you well and excited for the Netflix original film “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You,” a teenage romantic comedy that will leave you wondering about all the “what ifs” in your own life.
You may remember the story of Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) and Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) from the 2018 movie “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” but in case you need a refresher, here it is:
Lara Jean is a doe-eyed hopeless romantic. In the original movie, which was released in August 2018, the audience learns about the heartfelt letters Lara Jean has written but does not have the courage to send to her most intense crushes.
Lara Jean tries to overcome her insecurities as a first-time girlfriend who is dating a guy with more experience, but this proves to be a much harder task than she anticipated.
The film takes an unexpected turn when her younger sister Kitty (Anna Cathcart) secretly mails them out in order to help Lara Jean find a boyfriend. It is not until Lara Jean is confronted by two of her former crushes, Peter Kavinsky and Josh Sanderson (Israel Broussard), that she realizes what Kitty has done.
Viewing the letter as an opportunity, Peter uses the situation to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. Together, Lara Jean and Peter decide to “fake date” and establish a set of rules to keep the peace between them. As one would predict, the situation gets complicated when Lara Jean and Peter develop feelings for one another and end up pursuing a real-life romance.
The sequel “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You,” which was released on Feb. 12, picks up right where the original movie left off. Peter and Lara Jean are an official couple making every effort to keep their budding romance alive. Lara Jean tries to overcome her insecurities as a first-time girlfriend who is dating a guy with more experience, but this proves to be a much harder task than she anticipated.
In the midst of their budding relationship, Lara Jean receives a reply to one of the original letters her sister sent out. John Ambrose McClaren (Jordan Fisher)—who Lara Jean knows from their time participating in Model United Nations in the sixth grade—not only responds to her letter but coincidentally volunteers at the same retirement home.
At this point, there is no doubt viewers will fall for John just as they did for Peter. His charm and charisma make him impossible for Lara Jean and the audience to overlook.
Lara Jean and John’s rekindled friendship revives some old feelings the two of them shared years ago. With doubts about her relationship with Peter in her mind, Lara Jean is able to turn to John and is reminded of all the reasons she fell in love with him when they were kids.
This movie series is most definitely a crowd favorite, and “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” is certainly worth checking out. Filled with relatable high school drama and wisdom about relationships, the movie conveys heartfelt emotion and depicts the genuine struggles teens face when trying to understand what their hearts want. At the same time, the movie keeps the audience on their toes about whom Lara Jean will end up with.
At a time when people around the world are facing so much uncertainty and fear, this lighthearted romantic comedy is the perfect movie to watch. It will make you laugh and cause you to reminisce about the energy within LHS’ hallways and the excitement surrounding young love.
P.S.
You won’t regret watching this charming film.
