For romantics only. All others need not apply.

Rating: 8/10 (1 May 2004)

A poet once wrote (paraphrasing); the sweetest fruit on the tree of life is love in bloom. "Love Actually" attempts to capitalizes on that thesis by serving up huge helpings of that "sweet fruit" and showing us a bunch of people falling more or less in love. With a carousel of characters from a young boy to a couple of softcore actors to a rock star to the Prime Minister and more, this panorama of people passes round and round before our eyes as they gravitate towards one another more or less awkwardly falling in love until the culmination when the music swells and the couples come rapturously together. Sassy, silly, sarcastic, and sentimental, this fun flick features an excellent cast, good production value, great music, and a solid pedigree. On the downside, it's schmaltzy, unabashedly contrived, corny, commercial and conglomerated. For romantics only, "Love Actually" requires a certain amount of just going with it. Those who can make the buy-in should enjoy this busy testament to that which conquers all. (B+)