Fragmented, unfunny movie

Rating: 5/10 (22 November 2003)

Spoilers, in case anyone really cares-

This movie is best characterized by the last scene: 100 tiny pictures of ppl hugging each other. That's just about what it was all along. A bunch of couples falling in and out of love, some of the stories very loosely related. Fragmented, difficult to follow, and none of the storylines were carried out properly. I suppose this happens when they have too many famous actors and actresses that all need a role in there somewhere. Rowan Atkinson, for example, got only one funny scene, although he's on the promo posters. They could have done so much more with him.
Somehow the film doesn't fit the genre. It's not really funny, and a romantic comedy should have "happy endings" for everyone. What happened with Keira Knightley and her husband's best friend? Did they fall in love now? So she'll leave her husband, well merry Christmas to you too. And Emma Thompson cheated on and Laura Linney stuck with an insane brother and losing the guy - not my idea of a feel-good movie.
As for the humor, it was really almost nonexistent. There were a few "cute" scenes, and I laughed heartily at Bill Nighy once or twice, but it seems the writers didn't even really try to make it funny. The jokes were predictable, forced and sometimes just plain weird (like the little girls wanting to hear Christmas carols - huh?) There was only one big laugh in the theatre during the whole movie. Didn't feel like watching a comedy. Bill Nighy as the aging rock star and Colin Firth with his Portuguese girl were funny at first, but both stories were watered down by the end. The "fat sister" thing was so predictable. They even hinted at it in the beginning of the movie!

Speaking of which, what's with all the fat jokes? They're ok in Bridget Jones, but here we have a normal weight girl being called "plump", and Emma Thompson comparing herself to Pavarotti?! Way to promote a healthy body image. Not to mention the characters who actually were fat. I wonder if the writers have weight issues?
Hugh Grant was, as usual, charming, but his storyline wasn't as central as I had hoped. Also, they shouldn't have brought in the politics between USA and GB. I get the Monica Lewinsky joke ("plump" girl kissed by US president), but it just didn't fit the movie.
And the appalling storyline about the little boy who falls in love? 11-year-old boys do NOT fall in love. And he just lost his mother but is much sadder about a girl not noticing him? Maybe if he were 15, and the mother had died a year ago, or something. I couldn't believe the airport scene. It's even older than "fat sister" or "friends are more important than success". Too many clichés for one movie.
I mostly went to see this movie for Hugh Grant, so I didn't expect too much, but I was still disappointed. This movie was just too shoddily done to really touch me in any way. 5 out of 10 points (3 for Hugh Grant&Emma Thompson, 2 for the content).