A waste of good acting talent!

Rating: 4/10 (24 November 2003)

Love, Actually (2003) written and directed by Richard Curtis, is a movie about Christmas that misses the mark. In fact, it misses more than one mark because it's not a good screwball comedy, it's not a good romance, and it's not a good drama.
The film tries for a light touch, but doesn't achieve it. It's hard to believe a director could waste the talents of actors like Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, and the incomparable Emma Thompson, but Curtis manages this feat.
There are eight couples--more or less-- in the movie, but the match that should have been the highlight of the film is between Hugh Grant as Prime Minister, and Martine McCutcheon, as Natalie, the employee whose job apparently is to bring him his tea.. This Cinderella story starts out with the first meeting of the Prime Minister and his staff, in which Natalie delivers the unforgettable speech, "Hello, David. Oh, sh*t, I can't believe I just did that. Oh and now I've gone and said 'sh*t' twice." Not a great marital prospect for a young statesman.
(If you want to see an intelligent movie about a politician's romance, rent "The American President"(1995) with Annette Bening and Michael Douglas.) In fact, I suggest that you stay away from this "feel good" movie that will probably make you feel bad. Rent "The American President," and stay home and enjoy it.