Love Actually

[Char65]

My DH and I watched Love Actually last night which I really love but have not seen for many years. I'm not a feminist by any means but I was surprised by the references to Martine McCutcheon's character Natalie's weight by Hugh Grant's secretary, Natalie when talking about her ex b/f and even her dad! - for one thing it wasn't true but for another it felt very uncomfortable and unnecessary. The same applied to the sister of the Portuguese character. Richard Curtis has admitted the film is sexist but to me its surprising that a film made in 2003 would have those sorts of references.

Different times. I take it for what it is and don’t overthink it.
It’s a great film.

I think you may be looking back through rose tinted glasses if you didn’t think the early 00s weren’t a period of time where being skinny was everything.

I love Love Actually. Yes some of it hasn't aged well but a lot of it was normal for its time. Lots of films and shows made a long time ago have questionable content in, not sure why LA gets such a highlight

God there a million threads on this every single year

It’s a pretty awful film for all sorts of reasons but yes the body shaming is terrible

But why are you ‘not a feminist by any means’?

You dont agree that women should have equal rights and representation or services that meet their specific needs as female?

Do you have daughters? Female family or friends?

I think just about everyone agrees that the comments about Martine's weight in the script are ridiculous

What do you mean you're not a feminist by the way?

Ugh, I don't understand what it is that people like about Love Actually. It is a crappy film! Same applies to Pretty Woman - dire!

Sorry I'm new to MN!!

I love the film for all it's faults but had a little ironic laugh when Martine, who although had a battle with her weight, always looked really pretty to me.

Fair enough, you're let off then! ☺️

Surprised that a woman made a bitchy remark about another woman?
Really?
And does the world really need another Hate Love Actually thread?

Don't watch it then. It's not mandatory.

Erhm Bridget Jones was around the same time?

@Asifiwouldnt @Lottapianos
Of course I agree with equal rights and representation etc - we have 4 children - and our 2 girls have degrees and our 2 boys don't have so you could say they are better educated (if you believe in university education) but I was a SAMM with an allowance as my DH had a very high income/high powered job (he's retired now) so I guess wouldn't qualify as a feminist that's why I said it! But I don't want to get into a big debate about it as I'm new to MN and have had my fingers burnt already.😀

No I really like the film, I was just surprised that's all - coming back to it after all this time but I enjoyed it.

Being a SAHM has nothing to do with feminism.

'I was a SAMM with an allowance as my DH had a very high income/high powered job (he's retired now) so I guess wouldn't qualify as a feminist that's why I said it!'

To reframe your situation, you worked at home raising your children, which allowed your DH to maintain his high earning job. You both contributed to the family. I don't think there's anything not feminist about that, I think others may disagree but ho hum

Why on earth aren't you a feminist? How bizarre.

Ha! Another thread. I'm not keen on the film so generally avoid discussions about it.

Its a film.

im more concerned about the fucked up state of the person who thought of the scenes in films like Saltburn etc.

We need a separate topic for the bloody hundreds of Love Actually threads.

Don't worry about it @Char65, if you're new you weren't to know there are several threads every year about this film!

Yup

Of course it is. The huge disparity between the numbers of SAHMs and SAHDs is a direct result of the lack of equality between men and women.

Yes this is true