Love Actually: all heart
‘Love Actually’ is the most heart-warming and feel-good Christmas movie you will ever see, argues Etta Stubbings
'Love Actually' is directed by one of the most successful comedy screenwriters in the world: Richard Curtis. The question is, are you ready to immerse yourself into this emotive narrative?
The movie follows the lives of eight different couples at Christmas, all at different stages in their relationships. Some are just discovering the exciting feeling of love whereas some are saying goodbye to a constant in their lives. As the film progresses we see that all these couples are connected in some way, proving the mantra throughout the film that love is everywhere. The brilliant storytelling is perfectly complemented by the star-studded cast which provoke moving scenes that bring many to tears. The primary storyline follows the Prime Minister (played by the charismatic Hugh Grant) and his assistant Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) as they pursue an unlikely romance. The more you watch, the more you become invested, the more you have to watch on.
Perhaps the most compelling performance comes from Emma Thomson as Karen, a devoted mother and wife who is struggling as her husband proves to be unfaithful. The scene of her listening to Joni Mitchell will probably go down in history as a beautiful presentation of the struggles of love. Another iconic scene comes from Hugh Grant dancing round No.10 Downing Street as a way to get into the Christmas spirit, a refreshing view of a prime minister these days. The film is full to the brim with Christmas joy and heartfelt moments which are sure to make you feel at least a little warm inside. It dives deeply into the complex relationships between family and lovers around Christmas.
Having so many plot lines to follow could be seen as a downfall due to the confusing nature of anything involving so many people. Some relationships aren’t explored as deeply as you might have liked which makes it difficult to feel properly invested over the short course of the film. However, the more prominent relationships explored are extremely heartfelt and compelling and rightly so take centre stage. I found myself a bit frustrated at the end due to the lack of closure in some cases and some of the seemingly pointless relationships but these don’t take away from the overall spirit of the film.
Holding back tears, smiling with joy, this movie will make you feel it all. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone looking for some holiday joy. The strong but simple message of the film is not lost amidst the busy plot lines and will resonate with all. ‘Love Actually’ is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video, so go check it out and get into the Christmas mood!
Etta Stubbings, Y11
'Love Actually' is directed by one of the most successful comedy screenwriters in the world: Richard Curtis. The question is, are you ready to immerse yourself into this emotive narrative?
The movie follows the lives of eight different couples at Christmas, all at different stages in their relationships. Some are just discovering the exciting feeling of love whereas some are saying goodbye to a constant in their lives. As the film progresses we see that all these couples are connected in some way, proving the mantra throughout the film that love is everywhere. The brilliant storytelling is perfectly complemented by the star-studded cast which provoke moving scenes that bring many to tears. The primary storyline follows the Prime Minister (played by the charismatic Hugh Grant) and his assistant Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) as they pursue an unlikely romance. The more you watch, the more you become invested, the more you have to watch on.
Perhaps the most compelling performance comes from Emma Thomson as Karen, a devoted mother and wife who is struggling as her husband proves to be unfaithful. The scene of her listening to Joni Mitchell will probably go down in history as a beautiful presentation of the struggles of love. Another iconic scene comes from Hugh Grant dancing round No.10 Downing Street as a way to get into the Christmas spirit, a refreshing view of a prime minister these days. The film is full to the brim with Christmas joy and heartfelt moments which are sure to make you feel at least a little warm inside. It dives deeply into the complex relationships between family and lovers around Christmas.
Having so many plot lines to follow could be seen as a downfall due to the confusing nature of anything involving so many people. Some relationships aren’t explored as deeply as you might have liked which makes it difficult to feel properly invested over the short course of the film. However, the more prominent relationships explored are extremely heartfelt and compelling and rightly so take centre stage. I found myself a bit frustrated at the end due to the lack of closure in some cases and some of the seemingly pointless relationships but these don’t take away from the overall spirit of the film.
Holding back tears, smiling with joy, this movie will make you feel it all. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone looking for some holiday joy. The strong but simple message of the film is not lost amidst the busy plot lines and will resonate with all. ‘Love Actually’ is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video, so go check it out and get into the Christmas mood!
Etta Stubbings, Y11
