Love Is All

It is not a bad film. It is pleasant to see, even though painfully predictable throughout. Nice actors. But the script is a shameless copy of British "Love actually". Besides, Kim van Kooten must have been living in some sort of a fantasy world: no foreigners ("niet Westerse allochtonen") in this movie at all! This isn't today's Netherlands; perhaps, this is how the Dutch middle class would like it to be, but it certainly does not reflect the reality! But then again, in real life Prince of Orange doesn't walk around the shops without security either,does he? All in all, not a bad fairy tale, but I would prefer to see something original, not just a cheap copy of films from other countries.

Honestly, there aren't many movies from my homecountry that i like, and if i hate one genre; it's sappy romances. This romance is however far from sappy! It uses humor, a grounded Dutch view on every topic, a good dose of sillyness and compelling characters to deliver a heartwarming story, full of important messages. Some cliché, some aren't, and some are plain in-your-face. The use of the Dutch famous holiday Sinterklaas makes it a movie that can be enjoyed with the whole family, although it is riddled with (sometimes not so) subtles innuendo's. There are a few things that maybe confuse foreign viewers, like what the Sinterklaas holiday actually is about. (no it's not santa clause) and little references to Dutch celebrity culture here and there.

Of course there are slight niggles (dreary shots of Dutch highways, Amsterdam is almost a village) but why dwell on such minor things when the overall feel of the movie is lovely. The emotions are real and it's very easy to connect with many of the characters.

The jokes are there but what sticks best is the joy the film brings. It may not sound very critic-y, but i've yet to end a sentence with an exclamation mark, unlike my learned yet ill-literate fellow opnionator.

Carice van Houten is lovely, if frustrating. Paul de Leeuw can act! Who knew? (Who Cared). Daan Schuurmans is wonderfully understated. Many more actors will surprise you with their acting qualities, no doubt helped by Kim van Kootens convincing lines and scenes.

Go see this movie, you will not be disappointed. It will restore your faith in Dutch cinema, just like "Simon" did.

Who wouldn't want to unwrap Carice van Houten from her gift costume? She deserves her prince on the white horse because she comes to realize that she should believe in love. I also liked Anneke Blok, who plays a type that is rarely portrayed in Dutch movies: the busy mother who arranges everything and is heading towards a nervous breakdown. The gay couple is portrayed so matter-of-factly - not as some statement - that you are hardly aware that you are watching two men kiss each other on the lips.

The first half hour of the movie is especially funny. The movie then loses some of its momentum, despite the rapid cuts between the story lines. Some of the jokes fall flat and one extra character is hastily introduced. The finale on snowy Santa Claus's birthday makes up for a lot, although I found it a bit too understated to serve as the climax and bold moral statement that this movie deserves.

The multiple-story-line approach is a real balancing act and I applaud the filmmakers for their guts to set the bar so high. Also, I think to make a positive movie about love is in a way more daring than the cynical approach with a lot of cheap nudity, which since long has been the standard in Dutch movie-making.

Judging by the numbers of visitors, the filmmakers have succeeded in making the audience believe in love, at least for a short while..

One of the best dutch movies i've seen so far. The acting is good, sometimes even excellent. Great work by some unknown actors and actresses. A lot of funny characters played by famous dutch people. The script is uplifting and smart, with some nice twists. Sometimes some obvious connections between the different story lines that are pointed out during the film, but still not overrated or overdone. A lot of humor with a nice combination of love, drama and twisted humor and awareness. A film you must see if you like dutch movies. Good girlfriend-boyfriend material for a night at the cinema, or even to watch with good friends before a night in the town!