Review of Love Actually (2003) by Scott A — 23 Aug 2013

I wouldn't say I hate the romance genre, but it doesn't do it for me most times. But this is an exception. One of my all time favorites films. An ensemble cast movie that has been tried to redo a few times, like with Valentine's Day per say, but others have never hit the right note.

Besides a slight cameo from Billy Bob Thornton and maybe Laura Linney, the entire cast is made up of up and coming British actors. Some, like Emma Thompson, Billy Nighy, Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant or Alan Rickman, were all established, and some have gone on to much bigger things since; Andrew Garfield on Walking Dead, Martin Freeman in The Hobbit films and Sienna Guillory in the Resident Evil films. Not a bad egg in the entire ensemble.

There are a many of subplots going on here. Each one is given enough time to develop and most of them weave into each others' stories. My favorite involved Firth as a man who falls in love with a girl without being able to speak her language.

The score and songs they use are all perfect. You will probably find yourself crying a lot during this movie, some sad scenes, but mostly cause everyone falling in love of course it has this joyous ending that SHOULD leave you in happy tears.

The cards scene, Firth finding his woman, the kid in the airport, ALL the stuff in 'Wisconsin' and an amazing scene set to an amazing Joni Mitchell song are just some amazing works in film making.

Even if 'chick flicks' are not for you, give this a chance and I guarantee you will be glad you did! AMAZING MOVIE!