The Love Letter Movie Review 1999

Disappointingly loose adaptation of the novel by Cathleen Schine feels the need to take the focus off the unexpected love story developing between fortysomething bookstore owner Helen MacFarquhar (Capshaw) and college student Johnny (Scott), with too many peripheral characters. (Yeah, Tom Selleck's charming but his character's a goofy distraction.) Anyway, the love letter in question is an anonymous missive Helen receives at her bookstore. She's not certain it's meant for her, and if it is, just who the secret admirer might be. Then Johnny finds the letter and thinks it's meant for him--or maybe it was for Helen's cynical partner, Janet (DeGeneres). The biggest mystery is why the lovely Danner is playing Capshaw's MOTHER (under a ton of rubber makeup) for heaven's sake!

Distribution

DreamWorks SKG, 1000 Flower St., Glendale, CA 91201, Phone: (818)695-5000, Fax: (818)695-7775, URL: http://www.dreamworks.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 88 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

May-December Romance, Books & Bookstores, Moms

Screenplay

Maria Maggenti

Cast

Kate Capshaw, Tom Everett Scott, Tom Selleck, Ellen DeGeneres, Blythe Danner, Gloria Stuart, Geraldine McEwan, Alice Drummond, Jack Black

Cinematography

Tami Reiker

Director

Peter Chan

Music

Luis Bacalov

Producer

Sarah Pillsbury, Midge Sanford, Kate Capshaw, Beau Flynn, Stefan Simchowitz, Dreamworks Pictures