A very pleasant surprise...

Rating: 9/10 (29 May 1999)

I was ambivalent about seeing this movie. I went because my wife wanted to go. I was very pleasantly surprised by its charm and humour, and left the theatre smiling. Hugh Grant was his usual endearing "everyman" character -- stumbling and self-conscious, and Julia Roberts broke my heart with her "I'm just a girl..." bit near the end. I've never been a Julia fan, but Stepmom and Notting Hill have pretty much won me over. Yes, the plotline and cast of characters bear a strong resemblance to Four Weddings and a Funeral, but as far as I'm concerned, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Both are wonderful, lighthearted feel-good tales that are well worth the price of admission or rental.