Learn how to play the game, it's easy....

Rating: 8/10 (26 November 2003)

"Four Weddings," "Notting Hill," "Bridget Jones." Is there anything else comic writer extraordinaire Richard Curtis has yet to accomplish? Well I suppose I could try directing. Seems like the thing to do. For his fourth, and ultimately most important Brit comedy, he treads on the directing techniques that have made people like Robert Altman and Woody Allen infamous, and tries to unravel the riddle that plagues millions everyday: Love.
"Love" follows nineteen people living in and around London. We join them in the run up to Christmas (December, not mid-October), and all are at a crossroads in life, seeking their next step. However, before they can, the jolly, holly holiday proves that even falling for your tea lady doesn't mean all hugs and kisses, and as Santa gets closer, every one of them begins to wonder whether love actually is all around.
So confident in this multi-layered, multi-characterised and self-penned premise, that Curtis decided that this would be his directorial debut. Even star Colin Firth was nervous for him when he announced he would be directing. Nevertheless, he discounts any such pressure by making this a rather impressive debut. Intelligently opting for an effective, rather than mesmerising direction allows Curtis to pay more attention to his script, than try to win plaudits for making the film look stunning, and could ill-afford to be over-ambitious on the flair front. With so many stories intertwining and running parallel to one another, it looked on paper, enormously problematic, but with his typical wit and heart, Curtis manages to orchestrate the bulk with surprising assurance and ease. However, there are those stories that unfortunately do not work because of this: Kris Marshall's `life-defining' trip to the States seems rushed; Linney's brother sub-plot is annoying, and tramples on an encouraging story with her and dreamboat Karl; and the love triangle involving Knightley lacks bite and real emotion. Nevertheless, the daring of the plot is not hindered, and the film does not suffer too much.
It's the truly exceptional cast though who really make the film dazzle. Grant steals the film, his boyish charisma and impeccable comic timing as good as ever. In addition, Firth's typical magnetism is a delight; Nighy is hilarious as an aging rocker, and old timers Neeson, Thompson and Rickman are as accomplished as you would expect. In addition, Linney and Knightley are as luminous as ever, and Atkinson's magnificent cameo is the film's funniest moment. Even more surprising is the debuts of McCutcheon and young Thomas Sangster. Both look surprisingly assured and confident in their integral roles, and holding their own against the rest of this phenomenal cast.
At times during the film, Curtis' does overdo on the `sickly' side, and at times teases his audience into thinking this will be your stereotypical Christmas flick. But he restrains himself, and never lets the love flood the astuteness and intelligence of the story, and in tandem with his unfailing cast, execute a warm, cosy, hilarious and perfectly performed film, which if not a main present for everyone, must a least be a stocking filler. ****