Love Actually - A Movie Review

Love is everywhere.

Love Actually was unwrapped into theaters in 2003. Amid the festive season, eight couples are trying to figure out love and their relationships. Their decisions impact their current relationships or their personal lives.

As I have said and continue to learn, we should give movies a second chance. Love Actually is one of those films. I did not pay attention to the themes or character’s stories the first time I watched it three years ago. This film is a heartfelt exploration of love in its diverse forms.

Love Actually contains several stories that center around the same theme - love. The film incorporates a variety of subplots and characters, whether they’re connected or unrelated to each other.

The stellar cast elevates the film with standout performances from Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, and a young Thomas Brody Sangster. The entire cast delivers nuanced performances and studies their storylines closely. More credits include Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Martine McCutcheon, and the late Allan Rickman.

Love Actually has several memorable stories in its making. By now, we all know how Hugh Grant hated filming the iconic dance scene. That’s what makes it more memorable! Rowan Atkinson improvised his whole scene. And that lake was only 18 inches deep so the actors had to kneel to make the scene work.

In Richard Curtis’s directorial debut, he collaborated with the cast to ensure that each character receives moments to shine. He decided to combine an assortment of stories into one film. That was a good idea that has now inspired other films. It was also Curtis's idea to film real passengers in the airport scenes for authenticity.

Special mention goes to the editing team. Editing eight stories together was challenging. The editing team did an amazing job weaving each story to ensure a cohesive flow.

As classic as the film is, Love Actually still receives criticism for exhibiting toxic and questionable character actions that have not aged well. Even Andrew Lincoln (Mark) agrees that the holiday cards' love confession to Juliet (Kiera Knightly) is stalkerish.

The one storyline that I don’t like is Colin’s (Kris Marshall) trip to the USA where he hooks up with women. It’s cringy, along with the ridiculous dialogue fed by the women.

Without the controversial scenes, what would Love Actually be? Love has changed. The stories indicate marriage, family love, and friendship, the most underrated form of love. The film's exploration of love resonates with audiences, reminding us that love is messy, unpredictable, and yet undeniably beautiful.

Love Actually is a heartfelt and emotional film. In the scene where Karen makes a sad realization, Thompson’s reaction is one of the saddest and most well-acted scenes in the film.

London cannot be forgotten. The use of iconic locations in London further enhances the film's charm, providing a visually captivating backdrop to the unfolding love stories. And everything is decorated head to toe with Christmas decorations.

You cannot watch this film once. It’s easy to miss the most subtle details with eight subplots. The first time I watched Love Actually I watched it on Freeform. Watching it on TV is not as impactful as nudity and language is erased. One storyline is omitted due to its subject matter, leaving out an important segment.

If this is your first time watching Love Actually, watch it on Netflix or catch a screening in the movie theater. I will watch Love Actually every holiday season. I am so glad that I gave this film a second chance.