User reviews

I hate romantic comedies. I detest them. You can list the actors I avoid watching: Hugh Grant, Sandra Bullock, Richard Gere, Julia Roberts. Romantic comedies make me cringe and I avoid them like the plague so you can imagine the foul mood I was in when I was forced to watch this film.

And the introductory voice-over by Hugh Grant as we watch an airport full of people hugging made me want to commit an act of violence - either against the people who forced me to watch this film or against myself just to end the torture.

Then the most unbelievably shocking thing happened. Bill Nighy and Gregor Fischer came on screen, mocking one of the most hated love songs in Britain, "Love is all Around" and I found myself getting sucked into the film.

By the time I reached the end of the film I found myself facing the impossible, there was one romantic comedy out there that genuinely is a comedy and actually likeable. No-one was more shocked than I.

Many different kinds of love are covered (although not all kinds), there's 8 storylines and the biggest cast list I've seen in a long time. Somehow, it works. You'd think it wouldn't, I know I certainly didn't.

If you're looking for a full-length story, this is not the film for you. It snap-shots the important events leading to the resolution of the couples involved, nothing more. If you want a classic romantic film, this might not be the film for you. This is funnier than most straight comedies I've seen in recent times, however (I'm just as harsh a critic of comedy films as I am of romantic films).

It's not trying to be the meaning of life, it's not trying to look at the big picture. In fact, it's only trying to do one thing, and that's say positive feelings crop up in the most unexpected places or are more prevalent than people think. One of the storylines, one that is cited constantly in reviews as one of the failed storylines with a sad ending is actually bittersweet. It doesn't end with failure but the failure of one type of love in favour of a different kind.

This film isn't perfect, I'll never find the perfect romantic-comedy because I hate the genre so much, for example, one of the storylines did annoy me intensely and yet ironically still made me laugh in places. However, the flaws in the film are vastly outweighed by positives. It's superficially complicated but is really a very simple film. It makes a statement: "love actually is all around" then shows why it makes that statement and doesn't attempt to do or be anything else.

And like the fact it covers different kinds of love, it covers different attitudes and portrayals of it - so a couple are realistic, a couple are classic fantasy, a couple are pure comedy and a couple are pure rom-com tradition.

I have seen no reviewer give this film a middle-of-the-road review, and I've read many reviews. I think, in the end, Love Actually is up to the individual. It's like Marmite. You either love it or you hate it.

Speaking as a cynical, misanthropic, Marmite-hating, Romantic-Comedy hating member of the human race, I actually liked Love Actually.

What I appreciated most about Love Actually was that for the most part, it realistically looks at relationships happy and sad, successful and unsuccessful, with a future and without. It addresses different forms and levels of love, sometimes straightforward and carefree, sometimes complex and contradictory. There are schmaltzy happy moments and touching sad ones, moments of great strength and moments of foolish weakness. The movie is made up of many threads, and of course some threads are stronger than others.

The most interesting parts of Love Actually are the times when it addresses the tragic situations where love is self-sacrificing, contradictory, or fragile. One character's unrequited love is revealed as a noble sacrifice made for another's happiness (the method of finally achieving closure and moving on, however, could only work in the movies). Another character is shown to be caught between conflicting duties that will, we are led to believe, prevent her from ever being truly happy. And the strength that a third shows when love is shown to be fragile and her world collapses around her is tragically inspiring.

These noble, tragic threads are interwoven with lighthearted comedic ones to produce a fabric that holds together well. While some characters have to fight for their love, others have simple, happy, straightforward relationships, with love (or whatever) falling in their laps like a parcel from Santa Claus. And the purely comic moments, like Rowan Atkinson's appearances and Hugh Grant's Christmas-caroling bodyguard, are delightful in and of themselves.

There are of course plenty of nits to pick. Hugh Grant doesn't make a very believable Prime Minister, and even his very pointed speech to his American counterpart -- especially relevant in light of Bush's recent state visit to England -- don't redeem the odd casting. Others in this forum have commented on the number of fat jokes in the film, and while I agree, I feel I should point out that the entire point of the first such joke is that the character who has fallen for the "fat" girl clearly doesn't think of her as fat, and doesn't understand at first who the other is talking about. It's true that calling her fat is ridiculous; she's only large in comparison to Keira Knightley, who must be carrying some vital organs around in her handbag because there's certainly not enough room in her torso! But that one time would have been enough; the "fat" theme gets tiresome later on in the movie. I also agree with those who have said that much of the nudity is completely unnecessary to the plot, and that at least some of the comedic threads in the movie are formulaic and unoriginal.

In the end, I feel that Love Actually is for the most part a thoughtful and entertaining look at relationships, which does not shy away from taking the bad with the good.

This was a lovely script, and I was surprised I hadn't heard much about this movie before I caught it on HBO. I turned it on to keep myself company while working and ended up glued to the screen. I really enjoyed it.

The movie is a series of vignettes about several different people that seemingly have no connection to one another, although by the end the connections are finally all present and accounted for. There's a fair amount of subtle satire and a generous portion of irony; the characters are quite human and often don't do the right thing. I was caught off-guard by the incredibly successful results of the trip to America, but I laughed pretty hard and decided I wouldn't have written the script any other way. Not everyone ends up getting what they want, but then again that's love, er, actually. Nice little film.

It has been a long time since I have seen a movie so rich in character that I did not want it to end. Love Actually is not a love story, it is a story about love. Love that reinvents itself, multiplies itself, opens itself up, and even devastates.

I am sure the film has its critics who say it drips in buttery corn. But when you are able to retreat inward and let it take you over, it is impossible not to feel. It is a rare treat - a film that makes you feel. During the process I was sad and happy and relieved. I was turned on, turned off, dizzy and grounded.

I was in love one time and it reminded me of that. The power of cinema can be that amazing, it can be that intense. The title of the movie is, perhaps, meant to confuse. Yet I believe it is designed to ask. Love Actually is ... what?

Is it lust? Or a deep appreciation of the past? Can it be conquered by language or political barriers? Race? Infidelity? Age? Can it be all of the above plus more? Maybe a mingling of several?

It is rare for a film of great acting to be married to a terrific script. Yet it is something else for it to speak right to the audience; not talk at them, not try to sell them a film. Let them experience the film. Let it wash over them little by little until there is nothing more of them left.

**** (A)

I have lost count of how many times I have watched this wonderfully written and acted Christmas romance themed classic film. At least once a year so that would be at least seventeen (17) times now. Great songs, a superb cast from top to bottom, heartwarming romances, and of course a must see "FEEL GOOD" ending.

It is most deserving of a perfect 10 for 10 IMDB rating.

This movie does come off as a bit shallow, and it contains characters who are one- dimensional caricatures of themselves. But guess what -- this movie is clearly in the romantic, holiday fantasy genre -- just like It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story are. And most people love those movies, so I don't get all the negative reviewing of this film. To me, this movie is clearly a fantasy piece, and as such it should not be subject to all the driveling negativity that would better be directed toward something terrible that masquerades as serious dramatic work. Would the British PM ever go knocking door to door with just one bodyguard? No Way! Do Londoners actually care what song is "number one for Christmas" more than Americans do?? (I'm seriously doubting it -- who other than a few teenagers and record promoters actually cares about charts?) This is clearly a work that's not to be taken as a "serious" movie, though it's seriously fun if you'll take it for the fantasy that it is.

I love this film. Despite the clearly fantastic story lines, I like the characters, and the amazing A-list cast does a great job. I caught it first in theatrical release, then I watched it three times back to back on a plane to London because the other choices were the abysmal "Cheaper by the Dozen" and "Duplex." Since I've caught it on HBO, and I've quickly realized it's one of those movies you can watch repeatedly when flipping channels for a quick "pick me up" that only fantasy movies can provide. My favorite movie of that sort is Groundhog Day, if that clues you into my argument.

The multi-threaded storytelling in this borrows from the likes of Magnolia, and the fact that it's a light hearted holiday theme flick place that device in interesting contrast.

I see Love Actually as a new holiday classic.

Love actually is all around on Christmas. "Love, actually" is a very British comedy about love on Christmas, and the magic of Christmas and the spirit of Christmas. It's a really clever idea of having many small and completely different stories being the focus of this movie because love comes in different kinds. The clever thing is that somehow all these stories do interact woth each other but each and every one of them serves its own purpose. Emma Thompson I think speaks to the hearts of many women around the globe, and her performance is very poignant and raw and real. Hugh Grant's story is here to remind us of Clinton and Lewinsky. And Keira Knightley of course steals the hearts of many once again. Some very iconic scenes, some great pop-culture moments and a ridiculous song and performance by a great Bill Nighy. "Love, actually" is unapologetically British and absolutely ridiculous and bonkers and I love it. A perfect holiday movie.

It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me smile, hug everyone, tell everyone how much I loved them!!! I think the music is the true soul of this movie. Cheers for the director!!! So many beautiful films he's been doing for so long!!! There was no need of marvelous photography, neither splendorous costume...but every detail was placed perfectly. Excellent actors and performances. It was a very good combination of experienced ones and some others one had never seen before. I liked very much how the director showed how open minded the English people are, by the way Liam Neeson talked to Sam and some other aspects on other dialogues as well (related to sex) It is remarkable also the way they mention the American society. Not criticizing the people and the culture, buy yes the government. CONGRATULATIONS ENGLAND!!!!

It's dangerous to criticise a film inexplicably loved by so many people. But this mess of mostly unsatisfying storylines is excruciating. When Alan Rickman comes across as completely unlikeable, something is dreadfully wrong. And the film is completely obsessed with fat shaming. Unfunny and a bit odd. Overrated 6/10.

Love Actually is a great movie with several well developed story lines that all come together nicely and a terrific cast that can be both comedic and dramatic. It certainly wasn't an easy film to make and I'm sure the studio must have considered it a huge risk, telling stories from several characters in the space of two hours, with all of them having little to no connection with the others, but it worked, Richard Curtis clearly put hard work in to this script and gathered a very impressive cast to make it a hit. Of course, with the amount of stories there are, some of them felt underdeveloped, I found Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson's to be one of the most compelling, but in the great their story dosen't get any proper closure, Colin Firth's story felt very tight, I would like to have seen more of him with Sienna Guillory, but with a film as crowded as this you are going to feel underwhelmed with certain parts. The films cast really is terrific and is the main reason why a story as complicated and messy as this really works, Liam Neeson shines as a step dad hoping to cheer up the son of his deceased wife, Emma Thompson is delightful as a wife questioning her own decisions, Alan Rickman astounds as a confused husband, Hugh Grant is terrific as a prime minister who discovers love for the first time, every actor puts all their heart in to these roles and they are all a delight to watch. However, the best performance for me would have to be Bill Nighy, who shines in every scene as Billy Mack, playing a character in no way similar to any role he has done previously, he plays a straight up pompous musician, and he does it ridiculously well. Always a fun film to watch at Christmas time, Love Actually is funny, emotional and very sweet, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good comedy or romance film.

Set one month before Christmas, we follow the lives of several people falling in or out of love.

Best Performance: Bill Nighy

This movie is very famous. I watch new Christmas movies every year on Christmas Eve. I have been postponing this movie for many years. I am glad I did. I watched it this year and I didn't like it. It is a very exaggerated and overrated movie. I don't understand what they like about this movie. Yes, the actors are good. The only good thing about the movie is the cast. The script, the dialogues, the atmosphere of the movie, I didn't like any of them. As a movie, it is an average movie. But I saw comments like this is a classic, the best Christmas movie. Tastes are different.

Some characters cheat on their wives, who cheat on their husbands, and who are ridiculous in the movie.

In London, from five weeks before Christmas up to a month after Christmas, the lives of different persons are linked by love. The Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) and the member of his household, Natalie (Martine McCutcheon); his sister Karen (Emma Thompson), her husband Harry (Alam Rickman) and Harry's secretary, Mia (Heike Makatsch); Harry's employees, Sarah (Laura Linney), a woman with a serious problem in her life, and the designer Karl (Rodrigo Santoro); the writer Jamie Bennett (Colin Firth) and his Portuguese maid Aurélia (Lúcia Moniz); the grieving widow Daniel (Liam Neeson) and his son, Sam; a porn actress and her colleague; the singer Billy Mack (Billy Nighy) and his manager; the just married couple Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Juliet (Keira Knightley) and their best man Mark (Andrew Lincoln); a British young man that travels to USA, trying to score women in that country.

"Love Actually" is a delightful homage to love. There are different situations, some of them dramatic, others funny, sometimes touching but never corny. The interconnection of the stories has a perfect timing. The cast is a constellation, highlighting the shining beauty of Keira Knightley and the nice role of Hugh Grant. There are many wonderful moments, such as the collective interview of the Prime Minister and the American president; or the moment when Karen finds that her Christmas gift is a CD of Joni Mitchell; or when Mark declares his secret love for Juliet; or the relationship of Daniel and Sam; or when Daniel meets Carol; or when the manager of Billy makes a comment about Elton John; or the narration in off in the beginning of the movie. I believe I could list many other magnificent moments, but better off the reader of my review rent or buy the DVD and have a good time. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Simplesmente Amor" ("Simply Love")

I guess everyone goes into this movie knowing it's going to be light and sappy, but it was a lot lighter and sappier than I expected. There were too many storylines - each one wasn't explored enough to build any drama. As others have pointed out, the movie was loaded with clichés and predictable attempts at humor. Somehow Emma Thompson managed to insert some power into the film with her few minutes. Those moments still haunt me a few days after seeing the movie. However, all the cute little scenes don't hang together. Most of the time I felt cheated by the movie even if I snickered at many of the scenes. Seeing Hugh Grant as Prime Minister was a hoot. This is a movie to get at the video store when you can't find anything else.

Ignore the naysayers who say this movie is too 'unpolitically correct' these days, or take issue with certain 'problematic' scenes because they want something to complain about.

Love Actually was made at a time when people could ENJOY themselves and have FUN (remember that?) without worrying about offending one of a number of various different groups.

Who cares? Just sit back, and immerse yourself in a fantastic Xmas romcom with a great British cast, lots of warmth and laughs along the way and an atmospheric soundtrack, to boot.

And I'd still watch it a thousand time over than the likes of Wicked, which came out this year. Have you seen the press tour for that film? Oh dear... 9/10.

Love Actually looks at several different types of love and the challenges we may face in each. It's impossible to watch each of the 7 or 8 scenarios we see and not identify with at least one of them, and likely more than one.

Rather than look at long, drawn out love stories, the film examines key moments in each, whether that is overcoming a struggle, feeling a spark for the first time, or finally recognizing what love really is.

Rom-com's have notoriously cheesy acting, but that's not the case with this one. The jokes are actually pretty funny and well-delivered, and the acting overall is really solid. Specifically, Bill Nighy, Hugh Grant, and Laura Linney took the top 3 spots in my opinion.

Shut off your phone, block off 2 hours of your night, and watch this movie in peace, preferably alone. You WILL feel something, and you'll be happy you watched it after the fact.

Love Actually is a heartwarming holiday movie that explores love in all its forms-romantic, platonic, and familial-through a collection of interconnected stories. With a star-studded cast, including Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, and Keira Knightley, the film offers plenty of memorable and touching moments. It balances humor and emotion well, making it both funny and deeply moving in parts. While some storylines feel stronger or more complete than others, the overall charm and festive spirit of the film are undeniable. It's a feel-good classic that's perfect for the Christmas season-9/10!!!!!!!!!!

Heartwarming and enchanting romantic comedy

The film boasts an ensemble cast of talented actors, each portraying interconnected characters whose lives and stories weave together in a delightful tapestry of love and relationships.

From the heartwarming romance between Mark and Juliet, played by Andrew Lincoln and Keira Knightley, to the bittersweet and touching tale of David and Natalie, portrayed by Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon, Love Actually captures a range of emotions and experiences in love.

The film's charm lies in its ability to showcase various forms of love - from the innocence of young love to the complexities of long-term relationships. It celebrates the power of love to transcend barriers and connect people from different walks of life.

Love Actually also benefits from its well-crafted and often witty script, which brings humor and authenticity to the characters' interactions and conversations.

The soundtrack of Love Actually is another highlight, featuring iconic songs that perfectly complement the film's emotional moments and add to its heartwarming appeal.

While some may argue that the film's interconnected stories may feel a bit contrived, the ensemble cast and the genuine moments of connection and affection between characters more than make up for it.

In conclusion, Love Actually is a delightful and heartwarming romantic comedy that captures the essence of love in all its forms. With its talented cast, touching stories, and memorable soundtrack, it has earned its place as a beloved holiday favorite.

If you're looking for a feel-good movie that celebrates love and the human spirit, Love Actually is the perfect choice.

Love Actually has a few too many plots that means it's a little too long and some of them don't really come to a satisfying conclusion. The overall package though, is a festive delight filled with heartwarming (and the odd heartbreaking) stories that are distinctly British and obviously all about love.

This is an immensely stacked cast with some of the best British talent. Keira Knightley and Chiwetel Ejiofor could've done with more screen time but there's then enough people to make up for that. Hugh Grant is the best Prime Minister, Emma Thompson is flawless and Liam Neeson rules probably because it's so different from the types of roles that follow.

Richard Curtis is very briefly misguided in his direction. The opening monologue takes a brave swing and everything after that is much better and gets there very quickly. A film like this wouldn't feel complete without implementing some festive needle drops which are definitely accounted for and employed brilliantly.

Love this film in December... i know christmas is for the kids and we alll watch xmas family films as standard (home alone, elf etc) we need it! Yes parents there are some scenes you dont want your young uns to see.... welcome to UK movies.

Love Actually is a British move about eight couples and their struggles with love.

Like Valentine's Day, Love Actually features an a-list celebrity cast; Hugh Grant, Liam Neesan and Kiera Knightly to name a few.

The plot of Love Actually is more real and down to earth than your typical American romantic comedy. Most of the character's stories are simple and you can see them in everyday life. The common issues some of these people are dealing with makes the characters more likable and makes the movie feel more personal.

Grant plays the prime minister of England and falls in love with a member of his maid staff. Neesan is helping his ten-year-old stepson tell the love of his young life how he feels. Colin Firth just found out his girlfriend is cheating on him with his younger brother and moves to the country where he falls for a woman who does not speak a lick of English.

At times the movie does feel a little rushed because of all the completely separate plots going on. At times it can get confusing and a lot of times viewers will be wondering why they haven't seen much of a certain characters in what feels like a long time.

All the actors in this movie did a good job for how little screen time they had. Only a really talented group of actors could draw an audience into the characters and story as quick as that group did.

Love Actually may not be completely realistic but it does what it aims for. It is a solid feel-good movie that does not make you cringe the entire film. This is not an artistically crafted love story, it's a simple movie meant to convey one simple idea; "love actually is all around."