"Love Actually" - Film Review

There’s been a trend in recent years towards making big budget films that are thin on plot and try to cram as many stars into the story as possible. And for the most part, these types of films have been pretty bad. The most obvious examples of this are Gary Marshall’s Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve, both of which meander aimlessly with no real goals, one dimensional characters, obvious story arcs, and very little to emotionally invest us in the stories.

Now Love Actually certainly fits the mold of these other types of films (the movie seems keen on having almost every famous British actor make an appearance). However, it’s much better than its counterparts. Certainly many of the storylines are fairly predictable and even at times clichéd. But there remains an undeniable charm to the film even as it becomes increasingly obvious what’s going to end up happening to everyone.

Part of this credit has to be given to writer/director Richard Curtis. Curtis’s filmography includes memorable British flicks such as Four Weddings and a Funeral and Bridget Jones’s Diary. Much of Love Actually’s DNA can be seen in these two movies; they’re both films that are for the most part not spectacular or particularly noteworthy. But that’s not to say they’re not good; in fact, they’re smart, funny, charming, well-crafted films that rise above their occasional formulaicness through deft direction, solid scripts, and nice acting. 

Love Actually is a holiday movie in the best sense of the term. It uses the gateway of goodwill from pre-existing notions of holiday cheer to get us invested in its various storylines. On the strengths and likability of its casts, and the sheer goodwill its builds over the course of the film through its cast and the exuberance of the holiday spirit, it makes us really like the movie despite how frequently overstuffed and formulaic it may be. Though a number of cast members are underserviced or underutilized, and as sad as it is to see Andrew Lincoln, Emma Thompson, and Laura Linney get their hearts broken, it’s hard not to be smiling, laughing, even sometimes tearing up, but at least never being bored or disappointed.

Grade: B