The Film Review
THE LAST LETTER FROM YOUR LOVER (12A) HHHII
You wait years for a decent romantic movie, then two come along at once.
Based on Jojo Moyes’ bestselling novel, The Last Letter From Your Lover, this gives us two separate love stories that play out in two different decades.
In present-day London, commitment-phobic journalist Ellie Haworth (Felicity Jones) is casting furtive glances at newspaper archivist Rory (Nabhaan Rizwan) while following up on her discovery of a secret love letter from 1965.
As more letters turn up in the roomy archives of The London Chronicle, we hurtle back to 1965 to follow an illicit affair involving American socialite Jennifer Stirling (Shailene Woodley) and debonair English reporter Anthony O’Hare (Callum Turner).
While Jones and Rizwan’s romance plays like a Bridget Jones-flavoured romcom, the 60s’ strand is a classic swooner that cribs heavily from An Affair To Remember.
Shot in a gorgeous approximation of technicolour, we get simmering passions, matching hats and gloves, classic sports cars and whirlwind visits to the French Riviera. The old lovebirds are perfectly cast and their sparky, flirtatious banter and long literary outpourings are beautifully written.
This rose-tinted trip down memory lane feels refreshingly grown-up. The modern-day section never really stood a chance.
While Jones makes a likeable lead, drunken dancing and tortured texting lack the glamour of the civilised mating rituals of yesteryear.
■ In cinemas now