Friendship, first love, and caring for others are highlighted in To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, which is a sequel to To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Although not as entertaining as the original film, this second offering includes moments of sheer delight. Many of the beloved characters return, and Lara Jean gets the opportunity to experience being a “real girlfriend” with all the ups and downs that involves. It’s best to see the first movie before watching this one, but I think even new viewers will enjoy being introduced to the darling lead character and her two boyfriend rivals.

To re-cap, Lara Jean Song-Covey (Lana Condor) and Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) were pretend girlfriend/boyfriend in the previous film, which dealt with what happened to high school student Lara Jean after six secret love letters she wrote in grade school were delivered years later. That movie ended with Peter and Lara Jean realizing they had feelings for each other. Like so many viewers, I loved the terrific chemistry between Condor and Centineo in all of their scenes together.

Happily, here they are again -- and just as watchable as before.  This time an added attraction is the excellent Jordan Fisher as James Ambrose, one of the letter recipients who had moved away and didn’t receive the message until recently. Fisher exudes charm in this sympathetic role. It’s fascinating to watch Lara Jean and James Ambrose interact together, especially when they find themselves working as volunteers in the same senior citizens center.         

     The world agrees that young love’s grand.

Look at those two go hand in hand.

But in letter form, trouble comes.

Sad music plays along with hums.

A former friend from long ago

re-enters their lives, causing woe.

Which boy to pick for her love true?

You guessed it, folks! I won’t tell you.

This sequel offers a sweet tale.

As a rom-com, it does not fail.

Still, love scenes might seem much too bland

for sophisticates in our land.

The target viewers? High school range.

I think it’s swell for teens that age.

 Interesting to note that Michael Fimognari, cinematographer for the first Lara Jean movie, serves as director for this one. Colors seem to pop out more here, and the movie runs at a faster pace, but those small changes don’t harm the film’s fun or the appeal of its characters. Also, the enjoyable musical sound track helps move the romantic plot along.

Thanks to writers Sofia Alvarez and J. Mills Goodloe for giving us another welcome movie adaptation of Jenny Han’s popular novel.       

(Released by Netflix and rated “TV-14” by MPAA.)

Click here to read my review of To All the Boys I've Loved Before.