Today’s quick review: Love Actually. As Christmas approaches in London, the Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) falls for his assistant (Martine McCutcheon), and his sister (Emma Thompson) worries that her husband (Alan Rickman) is cheating. Elsewhere, a writer (Colin Firth) and his housekeeper (Lucia Moniz) fall in love, a widower (Liam Neeson) helps his stepson (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) with a crush, and a washed-up singer (Bill Nighy) stages a comeback.
Love Actually is a romantic comedy with an ensemble cast. The movie tells nearly a dozen interconnected love stories, ranging from short and sweet tales of mutual attraction to more complex, ambivalent situations. The individual stories are pleasant enough on their own, but taken together, along with the film’s suite of excellent performances, they form a rich and fulfilling tapestry. Fans of uplifting romance will get everything they could ask for.
Love Actually pulls off its ambitious feat of storytelling for one simple reason: its stories are worth telling. Not all of them are elaborate affairs, but even the most linear ones have heart, likable characters, and a hopeful tone. The film’s limited forays into drama also give it some emotional weight, touching on the realistic side of love in thoughtful ways without puncturing the storybook bubble the rest of the film lives in.
The piecemeal format lets the audience choose which stories to invest in. Those who dislike one story won’t have have to put up with it for too long, and the variety of characters and situations means that the dissatisfied are bound to find something they enjoy. The connections between the stories provide an extra layer of enjoyment. Not only are they the glue that binds the movie together, but they also let the joint finale punch above its weight.
None of this would be possibel without the film’s outstanding ensemble cast. Familiar faces include Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Freeman, Rowan Atkinson, and Billy Bob Thornton. Everyone is in fine form, with especially strong performances from Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy, and the young Thomas Brodie-Sangster to make the film a delight to watch.
Love Actually comes with a few major caveats. Those who dislike sentimental movies and storybook romances will abhor the film for obvious reasons. Those hoping for an in-depth story about a single relationship will likewise be disappointed. Love Actually also imposes a steep cost from those who watch it. Its enormous cast and interweaving stories make it a challenge to follow, and getting the full effect of the film requires careful viewing.
For the right viewer, Love Actually is a top-notch pick that packs in a wide variety of heartwarming stories. Its scope, its cast, and its many takes on love make it a movie that fans of the lighter side of romance are sure to enjoy. Those looking for a story that’s simple, focused, or realistic should look elsewhere.
7.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for an outstanding cast and pleasant romance en masse.