A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

The Evaluation System Reviews by Title Reviews by Date

Reviews from Video Reviews of the Classics Personal Background

Title: Love Actually

Date Viewed: 12/24/03

Details:

Hugh Grant

Martine McCutcheon

Emma Thompson

Alan Rickman

Heike Makatsch

Colin Firth

Lucia Moniz

Laura Linney

Kris Marshall

Keira Knightley

Liam Neeson

Bill Nighy

Billy Bob Thornton

Director: Richard Curtis

Score: +

The Review: Excellent ensemble cast covering all flavors of romantic comedy; very much in the same style as Three Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill (I guess that implies there is a Grantian aire about it.) Even though all the romances do not necessarily work out, the aggregate works quite well indeed.

The focus is London in the weeks before Christmas, although there are side jaunts into the Provence countryside and the US. Hugh Grant is (quite unbelievably) the Prime Minister; his sister (Emma Thompson) is married to a senior middle manager (Alan Rickman), whose associate... -- but then it not so gradually gets very complex (though not at all complicated), and quite amusing. Lots of links between the characters continue showing up at the oddest points, until it becomes clear how all the connections work; this provides a pleasant puzzle for those in the audience less romantically inclined. Several different and interesting plot threads contribute to a well-knit whole, and watching the weaving come together is enjoyable in itself.

Entertaining. And I definitely want to find out where that bar is in Milwaukee!

(26-Dec-03)

Back to the chronological list of reviews