Much better than expected

Rating: 8/10 (11 November 2003)

I walked into this film thinking it would be a typical, sappy, holiday romantic comedy. I was not entirely wrong, but to my surprised I actually enjoyed this movie a lot. It follows the interconnected lives and misadventures of several couples around London, in an attempt to show that love exists everywhere. An impressive cast gives an equally impressive performance, the dialogue is well-written and funny (though there's a lot more profanity than you'd find in the typical Hollywood holiday fare), and the movie itself ranges from hilarious to heartwarming to sad. Strangely enough, this last fact is what has made my enjoyment of the movie less than complete; it seems that it doesn't quite know which direction to take. One moment it's a fairly standard romantic comedy (the Prime Minister's love interest), the next it's an oddball teen comedy (Colin's trip to America and the results thereof), and just when you're laughing and enjoying yourself, it turns all sad and serious with Emma Thompson's character confronting her adulterous husband, and Laura Linney's life being controlled by her mentally challenged brother. Some would argue that this adds depth, but I believe the movie would have worked better if it were more consistent in its genre and atmosphere. Still, this is one of the more enjoyable films I've seen recently, and it does end on a pleasant note, making it a perfect "feel-good" title for the holidays.