“Love actually is all around.”
These five words mark the beginning of what is, from start to finish, a thoroughly charming holiday film and perhaps the best romantic comedy of the year.
“Love Actually” is a patchwork quilt of love’s many forms. With humor, passion, truth and romance, this film illustrates all that love can offer and all that it can take away.
Veteran screenwriter Richard Curtis, best known for penning “Notting Hill,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “Bridget Jones’ Diary,” makes his directorial debut with “Love Actually,” and does so nearly flawlessly. Being first and foremost a writer, it is obvious that Curtis has a deep respect for the written word, a rare quality in film directors. He treats each character with care and respect, giving even the smallest role value and significance.
By expertly weaving together nearly a dozen loosely connected stories, this film examines the many faces of love — husbands and wives, sisters and brothers, secret admirers, friends, coworkers, fathers and sons — depicting each relationship with heartbreaking honesty and sidesplitting humor.
This film is a great accomplishment for a virgin director, a task made only slightly easier by the outstanding group of actors surrounding him.
A quintessential ensemble film, the cast of “Love Actually” is a veritable “who’s who” of stars from both sides of the Atlantic. Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth (“Bridget Jones’ Diary,” “Pride and Prejudice”), Laura Linney, Keira Knightley (“Pirates of the Carribbean”), Rowan Atkinson (“Mr. Bean”), Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson are just a few of the actors who contributed their talents.
Charming and dreamy as ever, Grant is brilliant as the newly elected Prime Minister of Britain, who appears to have absolutely no experience governing anything, but, as always, looks painfully good trying. Completely baffled and intimidated by his new position, life is made even more complicated when he, in spite of his own objections, develops feelings for his insecure but adorable assistant, Natalie.
If for no other reason, everyone should go to this movie to see Hugh Grant dance around to the Pointer Sisters classic, “Jump.” He’s got pretty good rhythm for a Brit.
Grant’s “Bridget Jones'” costar Colin Firth plays, yet again, the sometimes-surly but always-softhearted bloke who can’t seem to find the right women, the right words or the right timing. But, as always, he has good intentions and a killer smile.
Meanwhile, a fellow Brit equally unlucky in love, and in dire need of some lessons in both charm and hygiene, sets out for the magical land of love across the sea — Milwaukee, Wis. Leaving the rainy streets of London armed with only a backpack full of condoms and a charming accent, he proclaims, “I’m on Shag Highway heading West!” In the heart of beer country he searches for a woman to satisfy the male desires left unfulfilled by the dames of his mother country.
Without giving too much away, it deserves to be said that this may be the first film in history to portray a woman from Wisconsin that isn’t 30 pounds overweight and sporting Green Bay Packers colors. That alone makes this a cinematic accomplishment.
While the film remains entertaining from opening to closing credits, it does run a teensy bit long, and cutting out one or two of the smaller subplots wouldn’t have hurt anything, but none of that detracts from the overall quality of the film.
“Love Actually” makes no promises of love’s good fortune. Like the film itself, love is multi-layered; its sweetness and passion is textured by loss, humor and sacrifice. The only guarantee this movie will offer, the only principle it endeavors to prove, is that “Love actually is all around.”
Grade: A
