Great performances, but....

Rating: 5/10 (14 November 2003)

As another reviewer mentioned, the viewer must employ a willing suspension of disbelief in order to fully enjoy this film. It starts out realistically enough, but then rather shakily spirals into several unrealistic love affairs. (For example, even a Yank like me can't swallow **SPOILERS AHEAD** that a newly appointed prime minister would dally with "the help" as shown or randomly knock on a neighborhood full of doors on Christmas Eve without the press appearing immediately.) The writers seem greatly conflicted between the realistic (Laura Linney's selfless decision) and the absurd (the Wisconsin bar girls) and have way too many relationships to tidy up within the film's running time.
That said, there are moments of very clever writing and wonderful performances that make this film worth the ticket price. I would watch this movie again just to enjoy the awesomely talented cast (notably Rickman, Thompson, Firth, and Neeson) breeze through this fluff. And Atkinson adds his usual funny moments that are both subtle and hilarious.

See it and judge for yourself! It will definitely put you in the holiday mood. :-)