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Love Actually annoyances

163 replies

marychristmas22 · 22/12/2023 07:14

Watched it last night for the 26363th time and there are still things that really irritate me.

  1. Emma Watson calling Liam Neeson a sissy when he cries at the loss of his wife.
  1. Juliet kissing her husbands best friend in the middle of the street. And what would have happened if the guy had come to the door in the middle of those boards?
  1. This is the worst, the entire Laura Linney storyline. I get that she's giving up romantic love for the love of her brother but why? Why can't she have both? We're led to believe Carl is a nice guy, why wouldn't he have accepted her situation and supported her? And why does her story finish so abruptly about 45 minutes before everyone else's?

Not to mention all the sexism and misogyny but these things always just stick out to me as being the most ridiculous. Thoughts?

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Emotionalsupportviper · 23/12/2023 20:15

RallySooney · 23/12/2023 19:03

It's an awful film but I watch it because I'm in love with Bill Nighy.

Can't argue with that!

He is rather gorgeous.

CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 23/12/2023 19:06

AltheaVestr1t · 23/12/2023 18:45

It just occurred to me today how problematic it is that Natalie was fired because she was sexually harassed at work by the American President. And then she sends a card to apologise. She didn't do anything!!!

Brilliant Jezebel article linked above, it gets 10/10 for inventing the word 'cock-blocktapus'.

I thought she was fired because Hugh Grant realised he fancied her and thought it better if she worked elsewhere.

Not that that is better!!

Tribblesarelovely · 23/12/2023 19:06

Kiera Knightly. Just that really. Can’t stand her.

RallySooney · 23/12/2023 19:03

It's an awful film but I watch it because I'm in love with Bill Nighy.

Cincinnatus · 23/12/2023 18:48

Keira’s mouth

AltheaVestr1t · 23/12/2023 18:45

It just occurred to me today how problematic it is that Natalie was fired because she was sexually harassed at work by the American President. And then she sends a card to apologise. She didn't do anything!!!

Brilliant Jezebel article linked above, it gets 10/10 for inventing the word 'cock-blocktapus'.

Emotionalsupportviper · 23/12/2023 18:36

beguilingeyes · 23/12/2023 16:13

It also has Juliet Aubrey and a very young Rachel Stirling. Bill Nighy does all his own singing IIRC and the songs are pretty good too, co-written by Chris Gifford.

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Sounds better and better!

<thunbs up>

Xyyxxx · 23/12/2023 17:28

The Andrew Lincoln cue cards! That's his best friend's wife for god's sake. It's awful.

Ladysodor · 23/12/2023 16:36

It’s not real. That’s my thought.

beguilingeyes · 23/12/2023 16:13

Emotionalsupportviper · 23/12/2023 12:30

Thank you for the recommendation - that sounds like my kind of film!

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It also has Juliet Aubrey and a very young Rachel Stirling. Bill Nighy does all his own singing IIRC and the songs are pretty good too, co-written by Chris Gifford.

Bookgrrrl · 23/12/2023 13:00

I always got the impression calling Martine’s character ‘fat’ was making fun of the people who think people who aren’t stick thin are fat, rather than anyone really thinking she WAS fat!

beguilingeyes · 23/12/2023 12:36

Also, there's no way Martine McCutcheon was overweight in LA. Stood next to Keira Knightley maybe, but come on...

KylieJennersMakeUpSponge · 23/12/2023 12:33

Also @Nepmarthiturn Bridget Jones was 9 stone 7, according to BMI chart if she’s about 5’6” that’s a healthy wright.

Of you think that’s “well over the ideal weight” what IS the ideal weight if it’s not 9 stone 7?

Emotionalsupportviper · 23/12/2023 12:32

MrsJellybee · 22/12/2023 09:48

The only bit I like it Rowan Atkinson. Comedy gold

Came here to say this. Also glad that he is pissing off the cheating Alan Rickman-character.

I'd forgotten RA- agree, he was a joy.

Emotionalsupportviper · 23/12/2023 12:30

beguilingeyes · 22/12/2023 12:06

'I like Bill Nighy but he couldn’t pull off the ageing rock star thing. He looks and sounds like a bank manager.'

Have you not seen Still Crazy? It's about an aging rock band who get back together. Bill Nighy is the singer. Jimmy Nail, Tim Spall and Stephen Rea are in the band and Billy Connolly is the roadie. It's glorious. One of My favourite films.

Thank you for the recommendation - that sounds like my kind of film!

KylieJennersMakeUpSponge · 23/12/2023 12:29

Oops wrong character 😂 but yes Carl decides - paraphrasing the Jezebel article -“she has a brother and he calls sometimes! Relationship over! There is no way these people can date!” 😂

KylieJennersMakeUpSponge · 23/12/2023 12:28

EarringsandLipstick · 22/12/2023 18:21

He just wants sex and strops off when he is not centre of attention anymore.

Seriously, did you even watch the scene? 😂
He never strops off.

He does eh strips off to America because he didn’t get immediate intercourse after creeping over women so decided American women were looser

Emotionalsupportviper · 23/12/2023 12:27

I LOATHE "Love Actually".

It's over-sentimentalised sh!te!

Only Alan Rickman film I've ever regretted watching. I'm quite happy to have I'm looking seedy, being a bit of an a-hole to his wife, leading his secretary (or whatever she was) on, then leaving her dumped and alone - that's character etc - but the whole "storyline" was just absolute cringey bollox.

Total rubbish!

My opinion, obviously Grin - the only one that matters to me.

KylieJennersMakeUpSponge · 23/12/2023 12:23

Nepmarthiturn · 22/12/2023 20:26

Oh come on, neither of them were anywhere near a size 10 in those films. We now have 2/3 of the population overweight or obese but back then it was not the case so people didn't normalise it in the same way. Neither were enormously fat but both were clearly well above an ideal weight and it's silly to pretend otherwise.

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Sorry THESE women were ‘well above the ideal weight ’?

Please take your personal weight and food complexes elsewhere and don’t poison other people’s minds with them.

Love Actually annoyances
Love Actually annoyances
TheOccupier · 22/12/2023 20:48

ZenNudist · 22/12/2023 07:27

read this. It's so funny.

Yes! I love everything about that article and hate everything about Love Actually.

KylieJennersMakeUpSponge · 22/12/2023 20:28

I have about 6,498 grievances about Love Actually. But do I watch it every year several times and enjoy every second? Yes I do

Nepmarthiturn · 22/12/2023 20:26

Fizbosshoes · 22/12/2023 08:03

With regard to Natalie repeatedly being referred to as fat.....this was the same era when there were loads of magazine articles about how Renee Zelwegger had to eat 6 million calories and 700 donuts a day to "pile on the pounds" to play (about size 10) Bridget Jones.... Hmm

Oh come on, neither of them were anywhere near a size 10 in those films. We now have 2/3 of the population overweight or obese but back then it was not the case so people didn't normalise it in the same way. Neither were enormously fat but both were clearly well above an ideal weight and it's silly to pretend otherwise.

EarringsandLipstick · 22/12/2023 18:21

He just wants sex and strops off when he is not centre of attention anymore.

Seriously, did you even watch the scene? 😂
He never strops off.

EarringsandLipstick · 22/12/2023 18:20

Karl never asks about him or shows support.

Not the case. He says it's fine.

It's she who cuts off the relationship. She makes it clear nothing more is going to happen & she's not available. The scene ends with Carl sitting forlornly while she talks to her brother.

It's not clear why she couldn't have a relationship but it seems to be her call that they can't.