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| Love Actually (2003)
 
Starring: Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, Laura Linney, Bill Nighy Director: Richard Curtis Rating: R Category: Comedy  |
Carried by a brilliant ensemble cast of British imports, "Love Actually" is one of the largest, longest, and most definitely one of the best romantic comedies to date. Although its tiring runtime puts the audience's patience to the test, each actor brings a completely different character to the mix, making every hilarious moment equally charming.
Director/writer Richard Curtis ("Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Notting Hill") introduces nine different story lines throughout the film, but leaves little time to deeply develop any of them. Hugh Grant stars as Britain's new Prime Minister, a young politician who has fallen in love with his "chubby" assistant (Martine McCutcheon). His sister Karen (Emma Thompson) is having her own relationship problems with her husband Harry (Alan Rickman), whom she suspects may be cheating on her with his secretary. When Harry is not drooling over his sexy secretary, he helps his lonely employee Sarah (Laura Linney) with her office crush, although she tends to neglect her own love life while caring for her mentally ill brother.
Daniel (Liam Neeson) grieves the death of his wife over phone calls with Karen while also training his stepson on how to deal with girls, and Jamie (Colin Firth) leaves his cheating girlfriend to find love with his Portuguese housekeeper (Lucia Moniz). Also a friend of Jamie's, Juliet (Keira Knightley) discovers that her husband's best friend Mark (Andrew Lincoln) is in love with her, despite the cautionary space he leaves between the two.
Unfortunately, though, we get to see very little of the film's three most hilarious storylines. Disheartened by their luck with love in Britain, Colin (Kris Marshall) heads for the States where he believes women will fall for his British accent while Billy Mack (Bill Nighy), an old rock legend, tries to revive his success with a Christmas cover of "Love is All Around." The oddest tale centers on two adult movie stand-ins (Martin Freeman and Joanna Page), who engage in small talk while simulating sex scenes.
"Love Actually" boasts a plethora of big laughs and talented stars, utilizing both the new and old blood of the British cinema to create a film that applies to everyone, even 11-year-old kids who already have gotten their first taste of love. Curtis creates a fun script with plenty of jokes that neatly ties all nine stories together at the end. Along with a hilarious cameo by Rowan Atkinson as a jewelry worker, "Love Actually" is not only a great comedy for Christmas time, but also a great film for anytime of the year.
~Jason Zingale
jzingale@bullz-eye.com