What a waste of some very good actors!

Rating: Null/10 (26 November 2003)

I was tempted to go and see this film because of the wonderful cast list; now I wish I'd resisted temptation! Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Bill Nighy, Emma Thompson - can't be bad, I thought!
Sadly, it was. A mish-mash of 'nearly' story-lines, with some brilliant possibilities hiding among some awful rubbish. Too many characters introduced too quickly, so that I spent the first part of the film trying to remember who was who (or who was with who).
Some genuinely touching moments - Daniel (Liam Neeson) at his wife's funeral; Karen (Emma Thompson) trying not to cry in front of her children (why a lobster, for God's sake?); Sarah (Laura Linney) visiting her brother.
Some funny moments - Billy Mack's (Bill Nighy) searingly honest interviews about his dire Christmas record, and the US President's visit.
Some truly unfunny moments - Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) swearing at the Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) - ooh, she said **** and **** - how hilarious! Jamie (Colin Firth) trying a random selection of European languages when introduced to someone foreign - how original!
The near-misses and unresolved relationships were the most frustrating. There were some terrific storylines waiting to be discovered - only no-one bothered. It was easier to keep it light and frothy. So many missed opportunities - shame.