Largely innocuous, but entertaining in some ways

Rating: 7/10 (16 May 1999)

It seems lately that people expect every movie to either be an action fest or an Oscar winner. "Notting Hill" is neither. In a way it is "Four Weddings and a Funeral" revisited. Hugh Grant's character has an agreeable group of friends including the kookie houseguest and the sibling. Andie MacDowell's character has been replaced by Julia Roberts's movie star. MacDowell is more beautiful than Julia Roberts, but Roberts is a better actress, though she really plays herself in this movie. Actually, I don't know Julia Roberts from Eve, so maybe she's playing a woman who just happens to be a world famous movie star as well. I gave it a 7 because it was entertaining and fun and above average in many respects and I expect other people to hover around 3 and 4 so I wanted to throw up the average. The honest ranking is probably 6.
Oh, despite three years between pictures, Hugh Grant turns in a strong performance as a slightly disaffected, normal Englishman whose life is turned upside down because he happened to fall in love with the most famous woman in the world.