Sharp clever brit-flick with a verbal wit like no other.

Rating: 6/10 (3 May 2003)

A welcome change from your average `chick flick of the week', `Notting Hill' leaves a satisfying taste in the mouth. But there are a few nagging flaws. While the film opens brilliantly and maintains that pace up until about half way through the duration, after that the comedy becomes more sporadic, unsuccessfully mixing dry wit with needless sentimentality.

But the presence of Hugh Grant really lifts this one off the ground. His bumbling act never fails to amuse and is always right on the mark. On the other hand, Julia Roberts does little to outdo her reputation for being shallow and the love at first sight aspect of her character isn't all that believable. Rhys Ifans more erratic style of humour is equally welcome and the one-liners he uses are classic.
The film loses a lot of momentum near the end but what has gone before erases a good amount of the minor drivel that followed. So, with a nice cast, a great script and a pleasant overall effect, `Notting Hill' is a success. 6.8/10.