What made Love Actually stand out from other light romantic comedies is that it showed love to be a many splendoured thing. It is innocent and tender. It also involves sacrifice and loss. It can be betrayed and the consequences are serious. It prompts in us moments of self-awareness. It necessitates that we expose ourselves to risk. It is unfortunate that this film isn’t appropriate for teenagers as it says a lot more of substance about love than do most teen flicks.
I'd add a couple other movies to my list of romantic comedies:
- Hitch, the Will Smith comedy about a love advisor who finds it more difficult to manage his own personal life.
- Moonstruck, the wonderful love story between a closed off widow played by Cher and the tormented younger brother of her fiancee.
- Crossing Delancey, the story of a modern woman whose grandmother hires a matchmaker to find her a man.
- Something's Gotta Give, the story of love for the over 50 set. Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton are both great.
- Sabrina, the story of love between a stuffy businessman and his chauffeur's daughter. It is wonderful in either the Humphrey Bogart or Harrison Ford version.
- Anything with Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn.
5 comments:
'Crossing Delancey' is an old favourite of ours.
Thanks for stopping by the blog.
I'd add About a Boy. Great movie (also a Hugh Grant flick...hmm) and a unique spin on love.
Tim, I discovered your blog through Joe's and have been really enjoying reading it. Crossing Delancey is really delightful but most people I mention it to have never heard of it.
Aaron, I've been enjoying your blog for a long time. Thanks for stopping by here. I too like About a Boy although the one of his that I like best that I should have put on my list is Notting Hill. The scene with the friends all sitting around talking about whose life is most pathetic is priceless. I really like films where friendships are well drawn. Oh, and I should add Keeping the Faith too - I love Edward Norton's work and it is fun to see him doing some lighter work. The scene where his pastor explains that the commitment to celibacy and the commitment to be married must be renewed regularly is wonderful.
I was brought up in south east Essex so the friend scenes in 'Notting Hill' are especially real to me - the accents and mannerisms sound just like home...we
That is one of the things I liked about it too - its sense of place. I wish Britain wasn't so expensive - it would be a fun place to hang out. I was there in 1990 and loved it but couldn't believe what a meal of fish and chips cost. I don't know how people do it.
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