Love Actually (2003, Richard Curtis)
Generally enjoyable little Christmas movie. One of Katy’s faves, but I still thought I’d hate it… was surprised not to. Lost my notes, if I made any, so attempted story reconstruction:
Hugh Grant is the Prime Minister in love with his fired secretary. Liam Neeson lost his wife and his young son is crushing on a classmate. A young black guy marries Keira Knightley while his young white guy friend secretly loved her. An aging rocker wins the irony vote with his self-consciously awful xmas song. Laura Linney has a retarded brother and likes a co-worker. A writer likes his translator. Alan Rickman wants to cheat on Emma Thompson. A dude from the Office likes his co-star in a porn movie. A lame dude goes to rural US to get chicks. BB Thorton’s the president, R Atkinson’s some giftwrapping guy in a fancy store. That cover it?
Katy said,
June 19, 2006 @ 12:18 am
No! That doesn’t cover it!
Okay. The catering manager (not secretary– too cliche) wasn’t fired– she was “shuffled.” The writer falls for his housekeeper whose Portuguese and they have no common language in which to express their feelings. And Alan Rickman wants to cheat on an unattractive Emma Thompson with his hot secretary. The couple are not in a porno together– they are the body doubles for bigger stars. And somehow, in the end, most of these people are connected to each other.
It’s a well-written movie about love, which is rare. It’s creative, it’s funny, and Hugh Grant dances. Love is always written about in a very sappy way, but this film highlights the different kinds of love.