Nostalgia Nook: Love, Actually

Yes, I know I did Love, Actually already. But it’s been ten years. TEN YEARS! Time certainly flies. Let’s see how it’s withstood the test of time.

SPOILERS! are all around.


Love, Actually is a series of vignettes woven together to form one cohesive movie. An aging rocker (Bill Nighy) wants to have the number one song for Christmas (apparently a big deal over in England). Meanwhile, there’s a new prime minister David (Hugh Grant) and he falls in love with a member of his staff, Natalie (Martine McCutcheon), within five minutes of meeting her. His sister Karen (Emma Thompson) is a happy housewife who has no clue her husband Harry (Alan Rickman) is being tempted by his secretary, Mia (Heike Makatsch). He’s also trying to convince one co-worker, Sarah (Laura Linney), to finally ask out another, Karl (Rodrigo Santoro). She meanwhile goes to the wedding of some friends Juliet and Peter (Keira Knightley and Chiwetel Ejiofor) and notices the best man Mark (Andrew Lincoln) seems a bit lovelorn. He’s hiding a secret—he’s in love with the bride. Meanwhile, their friend Jamie(Colin Firth) discovers his girlfriend cheating on him with his brother and so escapes to France to write his book. There he meets and falls in love with his Portuguese housekeeper, Aurelia (Lucia Moniz).

One of the waiters at the wedding, Colin (Kris Marshall), decides he needs to go to America if he wants to get laid. His friend is skeptical but focuses on the movie he is working on. Which includes two stand ins named Judy (Joanna Page) and John (Martin Freeman) who fall in love. And then there’s Daniel (Liam Neeson), a widower now raising his young stepson Sam (Thomas Sangster). Sam is in love with a classmate, Joanna (Olivia Olson), and wants to impress her. So he takes up drumming.

So why do we still love Love, Actually a decade later? Many reasons, actually. (Sorry, couldn’t resist). The first is that it is now intricately tied to Christmas, like “A Christmas Carol” or “Bells of Saint Mary’s” or “The Bishop’s Wife” or “Die Hard.” I know I am not the only one who watches it every Christmas (along with “The Holiday”).

Many believe “rom-com” is a dirty word. Like romance novels. And most guys wouldn’t be caught dead watching one (even with a girlfriend/wife)! But I find they enjoy Love, Actually. There’s just something about it that speaks to them. Maybe it’s the humor. Or maybe it’s the fact that it doesn’t focus on just one couple like the average rom-com.

Therein is another reason why it lasts. Everyone can find a couple to root for. Jamie and Aurelia. Mark and Juliet (and Peter). David and Natalie. Sarah and Karl. The list goes on…I know I am still upset Sarah and Karl didn’t get a happy ending. But it does reflect real life.

Which is probably another reason people like this movie. Some stories have a happy ending, to please those people who like such endings. And some stories have unsatisfying endings or no endings at all, for people who like such realism.  And for those who like music—this movie is loaded with it!

Is it a perfect movie? No, I don’t think the perfect movie exists. But Love, Actually is a very good, if not great, movie. Which is why it’s fast becoming a “classic.” And I think we will be watching it for years to come.

Next month: Camp Nowhere

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So, last January, I did a post every week dedicated to the works of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. It was in honor of the Nostalgia Critic’s tradition of dedicating January to one topic. Even though the Nostalgia Critic has returned, I want to do it again. Just not in January. I am going to do it in February. And I’m sure you’ll be shocked to know I’ll be doing nostalgic romances. Here’s the schedule:

2/4/14: Tommy/Kimberly (Power Rangers)
2/11/14: Cory/Topanga
2/18/14: Mickey/Minnie
2/25/14: Elizabeth/Darcy

So mark your calendars!