Love Actually is ever so bittersweet...

Rating: 9/10 (4 November 2003)

What a magnificent triumph this movie is. In fact, it is so delightful and splendid that it requires your attention immediately. As each holiday season approaches, blockbuster movies come with their gigantic budgets in attempt to dazzle the audience with groundbreaking special effects. No CGI present here, this captivating movie is 100% entertainment with its wondrous dialogue.
It is five weeks before Christmas in Great Britain, and love actually is all around, especially for ten or so citizens. Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) is a washed up cynical musician editing lyrics to his one hit song for Christmastime, hoping for success. He appears on talk shows not only badmouthing boy wonder band `Blue', but himself and his manager Joe (Gregor Fisher). Enter Jamie (Colin Firth) who admiringly tells his girlfriend (Sienna Guillory) he loves her three times before he leaves work, comes home early, only to see her cheating on him with his brother. Only in Amer.err.England.
Meanwhile, Daniel (Liam Neeson) is struggling ever much so with the loss of his wife, and is trying to make a connection to his stepson Sam (Thomas Sangster). Helping him cope is Karen (Emma Thompson) who fears that her husband Harry (Alan Rickman) might be having an affair with his secretary Mia (Heike Makatsch). Karen's brother, the newly elected Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) has seemingly fallen for his maiden Natalie (Martine McCutcheon). Wedding Bells are ringing for Juliet (Keira Knightley) and Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) which crushes Peter's best friend Mark (Andrew Lincoln), because Juliet is his deepest desire. I couldn't possibly forget Colin Frissel (Kris Marshall) who proclaims he is a sex god but is stuck on the wrong continent, and embarks on a voyage to America.
The romances and twists in this movie are just as unpredictable as the human heart. The movie seems to have the right amount of relationships that intertwine, as it never rushes itself and is easily understood. It is thoughtful and romantic, and hilarious at the same time. Perhaps it is the movie's ability to never actually sympathize with any one character, allowing each person to stand out. You'll be surprised at how the movie goes the opposite direction at times, always keeping the audience wondering. Mark seems to be infatuated with Peter for a good portion of the movie, and we relieving laugh when Daniel's dread turns out to be that little 9-year old Sam is tortured by the agony of love (what else?). Richard Curtis deserves much appraisal not only for writing the script, but for his directing debut. Whatever ends up happening in Love Actually might not be exactly as you had hoped for. It closes most of the doors, but leaves some open. One character in the film states, `Life is full of complications and interruptions.' However, after you see this film, it will help you realize what is truly important, even though it tells you in the title.
(4 out of 5)