Love Actually- aged well or not?

[phonetica]

Just started watching it on Netflix, not seen it for a while. I can’t believe it’s 18 years old! I still think of it as only a few years ago.

If you’ve watched it in the present day do you feel it’s now a bit dated? Or timeless Christmas classic?

It hasn't dated well but then neither has Bridget Jones etc and I still enjoy watching them. Films are entertainment and escapism, there will always be parts that are annoying or cringeworthy. Something that always annoys me are big age differences.

It didn’t start well, let alone age well!

@MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry

It didn’t start well, let alone age well!

^This.

It's just awful... but somehow I just have to watch it every Christmas!

Have to admit Martine stomping down the stairs saying "Where the fuck is my fucking coat?" makes me laugh every time.

Also Hugh Grant's double take when his security officer starts singing magnificently 😂

If I analysed it I know I would find faults ( as stated by pps) but I love the film & it’s now a tradition for me & DH to watch it either on Christmas Eve or NYE. And I always cry at least once.

Its problematic shite with some truly great bits. My dds love it, kicks off our Christmas nicely every year. The best bits are Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth, and Emma Thompson's emotional scene. Oh and Colin Firth.

@Monr0e

It definitely hasn't aged well. But it's still part of my Christmas routine to watch it in the run up to Christmas with a baileys.

I also regularly say "just in cases" whenever I can.

The Holiday I find very hard to watch, mainly because I think Cameron Diaz's acting in it is just awful.

I cannot stand Cameron Diaz in that film. Her character annoys me.

I love it. Yes, it's escapism and there are some illogical bits. Why is a professional writer using a manual typewriter and keeping his entire manuscript on a desk outdoors? Why would anybody with a mentally ill and delusional brother think it was in his interests to indulge his delusions by dropping everything and going to him late at night? And how many mental health facilities have manned visiting rooms at the time of night a Christmas party would have ended.

But I love the rest of it.

If I had Karl in his pants, on my bed, not even an earthquake would persuade me to leave that room.

I love it, so many brilliant lines

Thank you Ant or Dec
Eight is a lot of legs, David
There was more than one lobster at the birth of Jesus?
Of course you did you saucy minx

And Hugh Grants prime minister dance scene is epic.

Reading that Lindy West piece is as much of a Christmas tradition for me as watching the film.

I was disappointed when I heard they had scrapped a storyline involving a lesbian couple (supposedly the schools head and her terminally ill partner). They wouldn't even have had to sacrifice any of the surviving storylines.
I enjoy watching it but find it more annoying everytime. I have a list.

1. Liam Neeson crying. He just stands there, squeezes his eyes shut and gurns. Emma Thompson was right to.say no one would snag him. Which brings me to point 2.
2. He has just literally buried/cremated his Mrs. It says at the start of the film its 5 weeks till Christmas. Add on the week after Christmas. Then the weird few days around New year so about 7 weeks have passed and he has a new Mrs in Claudia Schiffer. Jojen Reed should be sticking one of those drum sticks up his step dad's arse.
3. Hugh Grant should have fired his assistant for fat shaming comments.
4. No one says 'Piss It'. No one.
5. Or 'I look quite pretty.'
6. No parent is that invested in their kids love life.
7. That necklace is cheap and nasty. Just like it's recipient.
8. Is Dunkin'Donuts a thing in Portugal? Why does the perfectly normal sister of Colin Firth's new Mrs get fat shamed repeatedly?
9. Did the actors playing the stand in actors have stand in's?

10. How did Kiera and Ejiofer not notice all these extra guests with musical instruments?

Nigel .
I watched it last night and for the first time thought the same about Liam Neesons crying face.

God no, it always was like a 2000s M&S Christmas ad extended for 90 minutes of syrupy hell

@NigelWithTheBrie79

I was disappointed when I heard they had scrapped a storyline involving a lesbian couple (supposedly the schools head and her terminally ill partner). They wouldn't even have had to sacrifice any of the surviving storylines. I enjoy watching it but find it more annoying everytime. I have a list.

1. Liam Neeson crying. He just stands there, squeezes his eyes shut and gurns. Emma Thompson was right to.say no one would snag him. Which brings me to point 2.
2. He has just literally buried/cremated his Mrs. It says at the start of the film its 5 weeks till Christmas. Add on the week after Christmas. Then the weird few days around New year so about 7 weeks have passed and he has a new Mrs in Claudia Schiffer. Jojen Reed should be sticking one of those drum sticks up his step dad's arse.
3. Hugh Grant should have fired his assistant for fat shaming comments.
4. No one says 'Piss It'. No one.
5. Or 'I look quite pretty.'
6. No parent is that invested in their kids love life.
7. That necklace is cheap and nasty. Just like it's recipient.
8. Is Dunkin'Donuts a thing in Portugal? Why does the perfectly normal sister of Colin Firth's new Mrs get fat shamed repeatedly?
9. Did the actors playing the stand in actors have stand in's?

10. How did Kiera and Ejiofer not notice all these extra guests with musical instruments?

11. Why is (the ravishing) Laura Linney wearing a weird woollie granny hat indoors at a reasonably glam church ceremony?

Rowan Atkinson's bit was the best. He possibly scripted it himself as it stood out amongst the smaltz.

It was out of date when it was made, I always found it dreadful.

I only like the Hugh Grant story and they should have just made a film of that.

Oh god i thought Rowan Atkinson was awful in it, and i almost turned inside out with cringe at Hugh Grant's dance scene.

I love it, actually.

Sorry not sorry

The part with the young guy and the American girls is just rubbish.
Ditto the Bill Nighy bit (but then I'm not keen on BN, it's the voice!)

Love:
Keira Knightley bit
Colin Firth bit

But best of all is the Emma Thompson bit. It's obviously very uncheery but she (and Alan Rickman) are amazing. Heartbreaking.

For me, the worst is the sex stand-ins. It isn't at all funny.

But best of all is the Emma Thompson bit. It's obviously very uncheery but she (and Alan Rickman) are amazing.

Absolutely.

I love the Bill Nighy parts, AR and ET are sublime.
Keira and her creepy stalker can just fuck off tho.

Watching it is like eating a mountain of Quality Street, you know you shouldn't, but its Xmas so sod it

@Werehamster

For me, the worst is the sex stand-ins. It isn't at all funny.

Yes that bit is also shite 😂

I absolutely love it, though could have done without the Keira storyline.

"How many schools are there where the kids parents know the HT’s partner? Other than the HT at my son’s school is a Mrs so presumably married I couldn’t tell you a thing about her private life."
We lived in the same street as my primary school headteacher (and also her adult daughter and grandkids who were the same age as my siblings and me) so we knew them all fairly well.

It's shite but brilliant. Where do you watch Love Actually is it on Netflix? Arthur Christmas is off Netflix now! Christmas ruined!