To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before was one of the big surprise films of 2018 and proved to be the breakout film for its leads Lana Condor and Noah Centineo.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before was a Rom-Com filled with such charm and an original premise, but it was also a film that was nicely wrapped up. To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You picks up shortly after the first ends with Lara Jean and Peter going on their first date. Lara Jean finds herself anxious because she’s never experienced any of this before, whilst Peter has with his previous girlfriend Gen. In fact the relationship between Lara Jean and Gen is probably the most interesting aspect of the film.

Outside of that the rest of the film feels extraordinarily generic and far more like a typical Rom-Com where the focus is on a love triangle, when everyone knows what the eventual outcome will be. It very much feels like a postscript to the first film, and like there wasn’t really a story that needed telling here. It didn’t really add anything to the characters, as Peter is still the same as we’ve seen, whereas Lara Jean actually loses a lot of characteristics that made her feel fleshed out, and is instead just a generic lead.

It is lucky then that Lana Condor and Noah Centineo are still as utterly charming and adorable as ever in the lead roles. Whilst the material they’re working with isn’t as good, they are, and that may be enough for many people to come back for a second, and even the planned third film. New addition Jordan Fisher is charming, but bland as rival love interest John Ambrose McLaren. Meanwhile many of the supporting cast are still great, but pushed even more to the sidelines as they were in the first film.

In the end To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You isn’t terrible. But it does feel unnecessary, and like there wasn’t really a story to be told here. The cast are enough to make it enjoyable, but it certainly isn’t on the same level as the first.

5/10