Rating: 
Summary: Fun, charming, and completely meaningless
Review: This is a fun little movie, though some of the stronger story elements get lost in the crowd. Excellent performances by Linney, Neeson, and the always wonderful Emma Thompson. Be on the look out for the romantic comedy cliche of Hugh Grant dancing around while unknowingly being seen by a secretary! Hilarious and so completely original! Seriously, not a bad one to rent, worth seeing.
Rating: 
Summary: Great start lousy substance
Review: I went to the theatre to see this with my mother-in-law. The beginning was nice. Starts off reminding us to get refreshed in human nature by going to the airport and watching the people at the arrival gate. Then you had to follow 5 different story lines. The love interest had the language of a merchant marine. One couple (they are porn star body doubles)meets in a vulgar display of acting out sex scenes, it was embarrassing at best. We were very disappointed. We felt it had such comic potential, ruined by the disgusting content, unnecessarily added in our opinion.
Rating: 
Summary: Four-star movie with a five-star commentary
Review: This is a highly instructive DVD, because it shows how a half-decent film could have been even better. The deleted scenes included on this DVD are of exceptionally high quality, and makes you yearn for an extended 'Director's Cut'. As Curtis says in his introduction, he shot far too many scenes, and was forced to prune 80 minutes' worth. Whole characters are deleted from the movie -- e.g. the headmistress, her lover (Frances de la Tour), and most of Emma Thompson's wayward son. Personally, I feel this approach is undesirable, when it means that you as the director have to explain to several major actors that none of their scenes is in the final movie. The editing decisions that Curtis forced upon himself explain why the film at the cinema appeared to be a bit of a dog's dinner, redeemed by a number of uplifting sub-plots. The extras included with DVD encourage the viewer to try to build their own version. Personally I would eliminate the annoying brother-in-the-asylum sub-plot. The story of the two nude stand-ins is the least integrated with the other plots, and removing that story would also help to make the film more child-friendly. Heavy with a head-cold, Curtis also explains why he chose five of the key tunes in the movie. It's clear that music, particularly as created by female singer-songwriters, is a very central part of Curtis's life. Viewing that interview has directly led to my ordering the referenced Joni Mitchell CD from Amazon. The commentary is rather fun, provided by Curtis, Grant, Nighy (occasionally) and the 10-year-old boy. Curtis frequently feeds Grant with opportunities to diss Colin Firth -- e.g. when Curtis mentions that the French villa used for the writer's refuge has subsequently burnt down, Grant asks "Was Colin still in it?". Curtis starts the commentary, by the way, five minutes before Grant arrives -- stuck in traffic -- and soon after his arrival, Grant has to take a mobile call from his golf coach. The banter is generally at this Oxford level, and Nighy seems left out. Curtis is also aware that the 10-year-old probably shouldn't be watching a 15-certificate film, but the lad does OK. As for the movie itself, I still maintain that it proves that Emma Thompson is the finest actress of her generation. A big [disappointment] that she didn't get best supporting actress at the Oscars. Anyway, see what you think. Curtis's DVDs always get the most repeated viewing in our household. Definitely worth investing in. A 4-star film with a 5-star commentary.
Rating: 
Summary: Romantic fluff, but a little romance never hurt anyone
Review: I was only mildly interested in seeing this movie, but I really enjoyed it. Yes, there was an amazing amount of different threads to follow as this film told the story of nine or ten different people and their partners over a five week period leading up to Christmas. Nevertheless, the witty script and the first rate acting made the whole process relatively painless. There was charm in abundance from Hugh Grant, playing Hugh Grant as usual, but he does it so well that you can't help but warm to him. Martine McCutcheon as his love interest was surprising unannoying, and not in the least bit chubby! Plenty of laughs from Bill Nighy and Gregor Fisher as a faded rock star and his long-suffering manager. Colin Firth in pursuit of his Portuguese maid also provided a few laughs courtesy of the language barrier, and the nerdish caterer with his dreams of being a sex god based soley on the strength of the lure of his British accent would have on American women kept the humour flowing. Acting kudos go to Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson and most notably Emma Thompson. Ms Thompson once again plays the kind of gung-ho, upper middle class woman who has contributed to my usual dislike of her chosen roles, but she outdid herself in this slight role. I was moved to tears by her brilliant acting performance in the scene where she retreats to her bedroom to adjust to the knowledge that her husband is having an affair with his secretary. Eye candy was provided for both sexes in the shape Keira Knightley and Andrew Lincoln. I enjoyed their storyline, despite it's flaws, but that may be because I'm just a sucker for physical beauty. Laura Linney and her erstwhile Latino lover were also very attractive, but slightly less sympathetic. And what can I say about the wonderful performances given by young Thomas Sangster and Liam Neeson as his grieving stepfather? Excellent, believable acting rescuing a storyline that verged on unashamed bathos. Overall, I would recommend this film and commend Richard Curtis for an enjoyable, feel-good movie that left me smiling with tears in my eyes.
Rating:
Summary: Actually, Too Much 'Love' Here (3.5 stars)
Review: Building on the pattern of contemporary British comedies of manners -- starting with "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and ending, hmmm..., wherever near Bridget Jones and "About a Boy", this mega-romantic mega-comedy encompasses almost a dozen of 'love stories', of which some are truly romantic, some just cute and some outright stupid. Each single character is distinguished clearly in their situation and so the viewer should not have problems with getting lost inside the mix, but it's the sheer star power that saves the movie. Emma Thompson is once again wonderful, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant are everything you may expect from them, too. Laura Linney stars in one of the few episodes here that don't end much on the sunny side and youthfully luminous Keira Knightley is truly a sight for sore eyes not only for Mark (Andrew Lincoln) who thought he was gay. The cast also has some surprises in store, like singer Martine McCutcheon, and cameos by Billy Bob Thornton, Claudia Schiffer and ubiquitous 'Mr.Bean' Rowan Atkinson. Notable is the role of Bill Nighy (as the ageing rocker Billy Mack), who was awarded as best supporting actor by both British BAFTA academy and Los Angeles critics. The film at times tests viewers' sensitivity to profanity and suggestively sexual (although disguised as funny) scenes. This aside, it's intelligent and romantic entertainment, enhanced also by a stellar soundtrack (including songs from Norah Jones, Sugababes and Mariah Carey).
Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Review: This is an excellent movie! It makes you laugh. It makes you cry. Hugh Grant's dance is hilarious and the couples and the lengths they go to are heartwarming. I recommend it for anyone, but not appropriate for kids because of some innappropriate scenes.
Rating:
Summary: Two Thumbs Way Up
Review: First off, I just want to say that I have never ever submitted an online review of any kind but I loved this movie so much, that I wanted to share my input. I saw this movie in the theatre and have been anxiously waiting for the DVD to come out. It has everything a romantic comedy should have, its funny, heartfelt, has a great cast of characters with many great actors. There have been complaints that there are too many storylines which cause undeveloped characters. I didn't feel this way at all, I thought that it was unique and kept the movie more interesting with little room for boredom. I loved that all kinds of love was explored, not just the traditional love between a man and woman. It's a movie that will make you think, laugh, and cry.
Rating:
Summary: Love Is All Around; Enjoyable, But Actually Too Much Around
Review: [Actually, my rating is 3.5 stars.] No one can deny the fact that Richard Curtis is one of the best screenwriters in the world. And yes, "Love Actually" confirms the fame again. But as to his directoral skills, "Love" actually shows that it is short of the ones' such as Roger Mitchell who did in "Notting Hill." In short, good, but not great. "Love Actually" has many (including potential) couples in love, and too many, I am afraid. Hugh Grant as Prime Minister of UK is in love with his chubby secretary while Emma Thompson plays a wife of Alan Rickman, in whose office Laura Linney works, who is in love with a hunky guy, and so on and on. However, though the film includes the stars like Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Rowan Atkinson, and Liam Neeson, the screentime alloted to each actor is too short for any character they play to fully engage our attentions. That does not mean the film is boring. On the contrary, it has a lot of witty dialogues of Richard Curtis, the same kind of funny lines you enjoyed in "Four Weddings and a Funeral." But as you keep watching on, you will probably some stories should be left in the cutting room. Actually, two (or three) couples' stories are not interesting at all. And the slightly political satire on the US-UK relation (represented awkwardly by the US President Billy Bob Thornton) clearly sticks out. We need romance here, not political comments, even wrapped with laughter. Among the many actors, it is Bill Nighy who steals the show, as an ex-rocker whose acid tongue cannot be kept silent even on the air. The way how this down-and-out, die-hard rocker sings his awful version of "Love Is All Around" (used in "Four Wedding" by Wet Wet Wet) is a real pleasure to see, and you can find him in every funny moment of the film. "Love Actually" is too long, and its story clutters with too many characters. It is a fun to see it, but no one would complain if Richard Curtis concentrate his enormous talent on writing only in the future.
Rating:
Summary: So good
Review: I loved this movie, it was one of the best of 2003. I laughed and cried. I highly recommend this to anybody!
Rating:
Summary: A comparison
Review: If 90 minutes of playful, self-conscious humor of romantic comedies presses all the right buttons for you, does it follow that two hours or so of the same playful, self-conscious humor will appeal to you even more? No, it turns out, it doesn't necessarily. If there were one thing I'd suggest to someone before even renting this movie, it might be to remind them simply that a movie is a good chunk of time out of your life which you won't be getting back; choose accordingly. This does NOT mean you shouldn't watch "Love Actually", but I WOULD like to draw a distinction between fluff and non-fluff romantic comedy, and the fact that "Love Actually" certainly falls into the latter category. How can one say it? A movie like "Sleepless in Seattle", there you watch it because you know all the plot, acting etc. is all basically manipulated so that your heartstrings will get pulled, but clandestinely. You know THAT ahead of time. In "Love Actually", on the other hand, it's like you're supposed to fill that void yourself - I mean specifically the one where the emotional and dramatic elements should be (to be yet more blunt, the elements that make us care about the characters. Any sense of plot or conflict serves only as a scaffolding for the situation comedy and warm and/or fuzzy moments which, after all, make up the ostensible, visual substance of films in this genre. "Sleepless in Seattle" had those moments, but it had a lot underneath; this movie however defintely has a residual nature to it. (I should say "Sleepless in Seattle" is one of only two or three other romantic comedies I think I've ever seen, but I'm pretty sure it bears the role of archetypal romantic comedy pretty well). The positive points: I'll never understand this, but Hugh Grant is ALWAYS funny. He plays the Prime Minister of GB. In one scene (after the President of the US, played by Billy Bob Thornton in yet another inexplicable cameo, has sexually harassed his secretary), he tells a throng of reporters that Britain "shall not give in" or something to America's interests. It's completely out of left field and completely implausible, but it's just great. Meanwhile, said secretary (I don't remember who she was played by, there're about 20 characters) has enough beauty and sweetness to stock the whole of the movie; jokes are made throughout about her weight yet she is consistently the most interesting and convincing female character...which is another positive point. If you don't like one storyline, it won't be too long before the perspective shifts. The main negative point of course is what I already alluded to, namely, that NONE of the characters really gets developed. There's just too many of them, and even with the two hours (hence why "LA" is sure to wear out many welcomes) you end up not feeling like you've really seen anything of them. But again, if all you're after is diversion, "Love Actually" has a great atmosphere to it and, admittedly, a few pleasant examples of post-90s situation comedy.
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