Movie Review: Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Truth Be Told

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Strong leads in emotionally touching story

Cons: I waited too long to watch it

The Bottom Line:

An old burned letter

Adding an estranged father

Gives us great movie

Letter for Afghanistan and Oliver’s Past Returns

Somehow, I let close to two years go between watching movies in the Signed, Sealed, Delivered franchise.  Since I have all but the newest on DVD, I have no excuse.  But I was quickly back in their world when I turned on Truth Be Told.

This was the second of three movies originally released back in 2015.  It opens just a couple of days after the previous movie (From Paris with Love) ended.  Again, if you haven’t seen that movie, they allude to a few things that happened there, but the major story points aren’t spoiled for you.

The story picks up on a Monday morning and finds the Denver Postable team trying to figure out how to deliver some letters that were partially burned in a fire.  Naturally, they are able to figure out how to deliver at least one of them, a letter from a soldier in Afghanistan that was sent two years ago.  The recipient is a high school student.  Can they find her now?

Honestly, this story feels like a bit of a subplot with the main focus being on Oliver (Eric Mabius) whose estranged father (Gregory Harrison) has shown back up in his life.  While Oliver wants nothing to do with him at first, Shane (Kristin Booth) eventually talks him into seeing what his father wants.  However, no one is prepared for the bombshell Oliver’s about to get.

The other two main characters, Rita and Norman (Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe and Geoff Gustafson) are more involved in the letter storyline.  Plus, they are navigating the beginnings of their romance.  Very slowly, but still, it’s fun to watch.

I had forgotten just how charming this series is.  The characters are a little awkward, but never in a painful to watch way.  Between the series and then the movies, we’ve really gotten to know them, and it is great to spend more time with them.  And we want them to get through what they are facing.

I’d also forgotten just how these movies hit the heart strings.  I teared up for much of the movie.  It wasn’t enough to make me actually cry, but it was very touching – both the hurt that the characters had to deal with and the care they received from others.  The story walks a fine line, and it does it in a way that ultimately feels heartwarming.

I’ve got to give the actors credit for much of this.  And acting is all good.  The four leads bring their characters to life brilliantly, capturing all the moments for us.  There might be a lesser moment or two of acting among some of the guest cast in the movie, but they never last for long and are easy to look past.

It looks like the next movie follows directly on the storylines introduced here, so I need to make sure I watch it soon.  If you aren’t up to date on the Signed, Sealed, Delivered franchise, you are in for a treat when you sit down to watch Truth Be Told.

This movie is included in the Signed, Sealed, Delivered Movie Collection 1.