So I watched this at the theatres when it first came out, with my sister and our children (ages 7 to 11) and in the third row from the front. Obviously last minute pick. At that time, I enjoyed it, found it entertaining. Didn't care for the Martin Freeman (naked stand-ins) story line - then mostly due to the fact that we had our children with us! So now watching it at home, 15 years later, I'm floored by how relevant this movie is--I still don't like the MF story line though.
The acting is superb, the writing is good, the direction is on-point. Re-watching it, what surprised me is the story line with Hugh Grant. When I first watched this, I thought the character of the American President seemed over-the-top and unrealistic, but as I watched it tonight, I could not believe it! Billy Bob Thornton as the American President was playing Donald Trump. Wow!
Overall, I thought the movie captured the "agony of love", all its pitfalls, its joys, its mundaneness and its reality. If you have never watched this thinking it "another rom-com", give it a chance. It has aged well.
Love Actually
2003
Action / Comedy / Drama / Romance
Love Actually
2003
Action / Comedy / Drama / Romance
63% - Critics
73% - Audience
7.6
Synopsis
Against the backdrop of aged has-been rock star Billy Mack's Christmas themed comeback cover of "Love Is All Around" which he knows is crap and makes no bones about it much to his manager Joe's chagrin as he promotes the record, several interrelated stories about romantic love and the obstacles to happiness through love for Londoners are presented in the five weeks preceding Christmas. Daniel's wife has just passed away, leaving him to take care of his adolescent stepson Sam by himself. Daniel is uncertain how to deal with Sam and his problems without his wife present, especially in light of a potential budding romance within their household. Juliet and Peter have just gotten married. They believe that Peter's best friend and best man Mark hates Juliet but won't say so to his or her face. Others looking at the situation from the outside believe Mark is jealous of Juliet as he is in love with Peter himself. Jamie, a writer, is taking a writing retreat by himself in rural France ...
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More relevant now than 15 years ago when I first saw it ... (spoilers)
Vastly overrated
The only reason I gave this five stars was because the A-list of actors. The script was a mish-mash of poorly conceived plots painfully forced together in artificial contrivance with virtually no actual interplay among the plots. I used to be a script analyst in Hollywood. I never would have passed this amateurish attempt at a screenplay. I guess if you like the actors and aren't bothered by unsophisticated, vaguely plotted, sappy romantic comedy, you might enjoy this movie. I didn't.
Unwatchable
I loathe this movie, primarily for its inclusion of porn movie stand-ins and a sex addict as characters in what was marketed as a "Christmas film." Such a dismal waste of talent.