Ambitious? No. Perfect? Yes.

Rating: 7/10 (20 December 2012)

The film most obviously comparable to Love Actually is Paris Je T'Aime. Although LA never scales the heights of its French counterpart, it never attempts to. In doing what it sets out to, Richard Curtis's montage of love at Christmas is every bit as perfect.
It is fair to say that this is very much a fantasy film. There are elements which are completely unrealistic and there is definitely a need for suspension of disbelief. The film does not branch out too far from middle class London with almost all of the cast living in very trendy, modern homes. Where it really succeeds though is that each of the nine story arcs has its own charm – there are no duds. For comedy value, the strongest are those involving Hugh Grant's Prime Minister and Martin Freeman's body double. For good, old fashioned schmaltz it's hard to look past Colin Firth's writer and his Portuguese maid. There's also a strong turn from Laura Linney in the film's most serious arc, as the office girl in love with her colleague for two years but with the burden of a sick brother keeping her from her own life.
Love Actually has quickly become a Christmas classic. One of the those films you can come into half way through and still enjoy every bit as much. It may not be overly ambitious, but it allows you to sit back with a smile on your face and relax for a while.