Review of Love Actually (2003) by James P — 28 Feb 2014

A great feel-good movie. If I had to compare it to another movie, I would describe it as a more light-hearted version of another fantastic movie, Crash.

Many characters with different stories about love and relationships glide in and out of each others' lives mixing their stories together into a beautiful and heartwarming tapestry.

A Prime Minister falls for his adorably crass (and absolutely average-weighted) secretary.

A new bride discovers her husband's best friend's secret unrequited love for her and he learns to deal with it.

A man mourns the loss of his wife, and at the same time helps his step-son win the heart of the most popular girl in his school by letting him learn to play the drums so he can play in her band at the school Christmas concert.

A delivery guy goes to America and gets to live out an absolutely ridiculous fantasy that really has no chance in Hell of happening in the real world, but is so over the top that it's hilarious.

A old dirty has-been rock-star learns who really is important in his life while being completely tactlessly honest in interviews on TV and the radio about a shoddy sell-out record he has just released for Christmas.

An author staying in a cottage in the country meets a housekeeper who doesn't speak the same language and they both fall in love.

A woman tries to pursue a co-worker she has fallen for while trying to take close care of her institutionalized brother.

A happily married man is tempted by his secretary to cheat on his wife.

Overall, this is a fantastic film that all but the most cold-hearted of cynics will enjoy. There are a few moments that are borderline cheesy, but overall, this is a must-see.