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The Love Letter (1999)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 4.9/10
Reviews Counted: 51
Fresh: 17 | Rotten: 34

Poor character development and scripting hamper any romantic chemistry.

Average Rating: 4.8/10
Critic Reviews: 18
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 12

Poor character development and scripting hamper any romantic chemistry.

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liked it
Average Rating: 2.8/5
User Ratings: 7,761

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Movie Info

Helen (Kate Capshaw) runs a bookstore in Loblolly By The Sea, a small fishing community in New England where everyone seems to know everyone else's business. A 42-year-old single mother, she is emotionally distant and fearful of getting too close to anyone. George (Tom Selleck) has known Helen since they were schoolmates, and he's been in love with her for ages, but has always settled for just being her friend. Convinced she wasn't interested in him, he married another woman years ago. Helen

PG-13, 1 hr. 28 min.

Comedy, Romance

Directed By: Peter Chan

In Theaters: May 21, 1999 Wide

On DVD: Nov 23, 1999

Dreamworks

The Love Letter Trailer & Photos

Cast

Kate Capshaw
Helen
Blythe Danner
Lillian
Tom Selleck
George
Ellen DeGeneres
Janet
Tom Everett Scott
Johnny
Geraldine McEwan
Miss Scattergoods
Julianne Nicholson
Jennifer
Gloria Stuart
Eleanor
Bill Buell
Officer Dan
Alice Drummond
Postal Clerk

Critic Reviews for The Love Letter

All Critics (72) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (34) | DVD (6)

The Love Letter transports the recipe from Hollywood to New England and turns it into the kind of flavorful clambake that defines summer escapist entertainment.

January 1, 2000 Comment

Jay Carr

Boston Globe

Top Critic

You're left wishing you'd never opened this letter.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

Top Critic

The Force isn't with, nor is there much dramatic force behind The Love Letter!

January 1, 2000 Comment

Mike Clark

USA Today

Top Critic

A scattershot account of unexpected, confusing romantic love that spreads like a virus!

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Detroit News

| Comment

Susan Stark

Detroit News

Top Critic

An especially affecting love story!

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Joe Leydon

Variety

Top Critic

To call this 'a romantic comedy-drama' is to imply an involving emotional core and a witty sense of humor that simply aren't there.

November 10, 2009 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com

| Comment

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Love Letter

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I actually enjoyed this movie. I admit I did have to start it over once about 10 minutes into the movie because I wasn't really paying attention and so I didn't know what was going on. The character of Johnny did make me uncomfortable though with how posessive and pushy he seemed to be. It certainly wasn't a brilliant movie but it was quirky.

February 20, 2010

Megan S

Super Reviewer

Just okay. I watched for Ellen and Tom Selleck and they were both very loveable.

April 28, 2008

Sunil Jawahir

Super Reviewer

The Love Letter Quotes

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1. Janet: I had a date with a pilot last night. Couldn't get my seat back in the upright position. You know what I mean? You know what I mean? No, you wouldn't.
– Submitted by Julie T (4 months ago)