Dross Actually

Rating: Null/10 (2 May 2004)

I hated this film. As with Richard Curtis's other efforts, this film is utterly shallow, with no convincing characters or situations, and *not funny*. I cringed many times but I honestly didn't laugh once. It is a shame that so many good actors had their talents wasted on this film. (Even Hugh Grant can be watchable when he's not playing the same character over and over again for Curtis.)
'Love, Actually' is not just bad, but bad in ways which I think say a lot about our present age. It is glossy and marketed, and tries to cash in on unearned emotions in a slick and dishonest way. The film contains some of the most blatant product placement I've ever seen, which is perfectly in keeping with the superficial attitude in which it is made.
Furthermore, I resent the way England and Englishness is presented (i.e. sold) in this film: lots of shiny red buses and posh people saying "f***" in a frightfully amusing way. Get real.