Signed, Sealed, Delivered 2013 (Movie Review)

Dir: Scott Smith
Starring: Eric Mabius, Kristin Booth, Crystal Lowe, Geoff Gustafson
Dur: 1 hr 20 mins
Genre: Romance
Rating: 2.5/5
PG: A few kisses.

In the digital age, means of communication like the post are on the decline. Nevertheless, they do enjoy a certain amount value. There are still many things that are communicated best through post. One of the most popular among them is the card. Cards are, to this date, posted in their thousands. Cards for every occasion are dispatched and await in hope to reach their destination. Well, this film is of the sentimental kind. It takes us back to the original use of the post, namely to transport letters.

The film circles around a particular department in a post office in America. The ‘Dead Letters’ department (something I’ve never heard off before) are involved in the delicate and somewhat drab task of trying to ensure that discarded letters reach their intended destinations. While the three employees approach the work with a kind of religious reverence, commitment and enthusiasm, Shane (Kristin Booth) the accidentally assigned, new employee stands amazed. She cannot understand the religiosity attached to what seems to her to be an ordinary job, if not a foolishly luxurious one. But very soon she is allured by the task of returning letters to their rightful destinations. The reason for this change? A single letter written by a dying girl to a boy she met and fell in love with. The desire to bring this love story to a fruitful climax drives Shane, who in turn enthuses the others.


The story is fantastic although I would have preferred it in a novel. The film floats along on the dialogues which form the major chunk. Acting is at its minimum but it doesn’t matter. After all, love grows in words and overflows in actions. The characters are well chosen. The editing wasn’t all that good, perhaps because the print I watched was prepared for T.V. Nevertheless, the story developed coherently and dramatically. The best part about the film is that it was short. Why do I stress this? Because romance can only be pushed so far. Once the goal has been achieved, its time to close shop and that’s what the director had the presence of mind to do. The film is pretty well done and subtly emphasizes the nearly lost charm of writing a letter.   

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