AIBU to think Love Actually was written for a bet

[Baileyscheesecake]

I've just watched Love Actually for the first time. (Yes I know I'm behind the times - it was released in 2003). Just from watching the trailer when it was released it never appealed to me but after someone on mumsnet said it was her fav film and she watches it every Christmas I thought I'd give it a chance.

I can't believe how atrocious it is and my only conclusion is that Richard Curtis wrote it as a bet to prove that he could write and direct a film with the weakest storylines and poorest drawn characters imaginable and still get a best selling film: held together only by fantastic cinematography, feel good music and talented actors.

Even the part brilliantly played by Bill Nighy points to the truth - he releases a crap song just for the Christmas market which he himself admits is terrible and it incredulously gets to number one based on hype, marketing and the terrible taste of the general public. Was Richard Curtis laughing behind our backs all the way to the bank?

I agree about her saying 'piss it' though. I've never heard 'piss it' before or since.

But 'where the fuck is my fucking coat?' is one of the greatest film lines of all time.

I really like it. Typical Hugh Grant sort of film though . I like Notting Hill but not 4 weddings.
Always nice to have a bit of Colin Firth! He makes me go a bit gooey, especially then, not quite so attractive these days!
I think it's quite clever how they weave all the random story lines together.

True, Pengggwn true.

Middle class people have NEVER been able to write working class people in a way that is believable or authentic.

I've never known a film to so analysed on Mumsnet as Love Actually.

It's pap. Whether you find it enjoyable pap or tedious pap is one thing but to analyse it as though it's positioning itself as a Serious Film seems a bit pointless.

I presume the Jezebel article has already been linked to at least twice? 😉

LaurieMarlow thanks for the link to the Jezebel article - it's hilarious and spot on and sums up everything I hate about the film. It also seems from tweets from Richard Curtis's wife mentioned in this article as though lots of their friends and family also benefited from parts in the film. www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/37-love-actually-film-secrets-11732359

But they can cast who they want can't they? It's not as though the film was funded by the taxpayer.

Squoosh sure they can cast who they want but it all smacks of nepotism. I'm sure the film industry is full of getting parts because of who you know rather than how talented you are but I'd still rather watch a film that has actors in it who got the part because they are the best person for the part rather than because they're the son of the director.

Hermione'sRightHook I agree with you, and one of his later films, 'About Time' is even worse.

I lasted about ten minutes before I turned it off.

I love it.

Were you unhappy with his son's interpretation of a 5 year old in a Spider-Man costume Baileys? Do you think a different kid would have been a better choice for the part?

Tbh I think the most striking thing about the film is that it had such a strong cast. I'm not sure who got a part on connections alone but all the major parts are filled by actors who are far stronger than the film itself e.g Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth...

I'm sure the film industry is full of getting parts because of who you know rather than how talented you are

That's the whole industry though. In front of the camera and behind. If you study end credits, it's quite common to see the same surname twice or even thrice.

Ahhh I love it! It's my fav film

Oh yes, watching Liam Neeson play a widower now, is so poignant.

But in the film he gets over his dead wife in a matter of weeks and ends up with Claudia Schiffer

Ahhh I love it! It's my fav film

Sorry, but you really need to get out more! And here's a list of films that may help to broaden your perspective around romantic comedy gold just a little -

www.empireonline.com/movies/features/romantic-comedies-best/

The Emma Thompson storyline was great. I also liked Laura Linney's office crush. Other than that, it's a poor film, especially Hugh Grant's scenes with MM. Great cast though. I also liked the sets and the cinematography.

It is a shockingly bad film with no redeeming features, sorry not even Emma Thompson's turn can save this pile of poo.

SaucyJack I suppose I'm mainly annoyed that the film got made in the first place. If that script had been sent in anonymously it wouldn't have seen the light of day let alone attracted all the big names who starred in it. There are so many talented scriptwriters and actors (and singers for that matter) who will never get the recognition that they deserve. But once someone has made it they can get away with poorly drawn characters, misogynistic story lines and badly written dialogue. So it's just adding insult to injury that the director's wife then tweets bragging that her family and friends were cast in the film. It smacks of privilege and power and money winning out yet again. Stupid me I guess for wanting to live in a more equal society.

I think that about quite a few things. Some fashion designers must sit there snorting with laughter going " no no , keep it in, the sheep will wear it no matter how vile it is, in fact , put an extra £200 on " " no we can't, well be laughed out of the fashion world" , " don't be naive, the more stupid they look the more they lap it up".
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It smacks of privilege and power and money winning out yet again. Stupid me I guess for wanting to live in a more equal society

Why would you even watch a frivolous rom com in the first place if you're going to get so upset about it? Hollywood studios are all about the £££ and the $$$. Love Actually made a lot of both.

Maybe explore a different type of cinema.

I love it.

Dh and I hadn’t been together long when it was out and the scene at the airport used to get me every time, the one at the start. Because he was flying in to visit me andme flying to visit him

Squoosh Just because a film is a rom com doesn't mean it shouldn't be well written and have strong characters. I love rom coms and there are some great ones out there which have strong female characters with decent story lines.

Not every film is going to appeal to very person. Plenty of people hate this film and plenty of people love this film, as evidenced by this thread. I know I'm repeating myself but I just can't fathom the amount of analysis this film comes in for on Mumsnet. It's cinematic candyfloss, and I can't see it trying to present itself as anything else.

Do people really sit down to a Richard Curtis film expecting anything other than scenes of posh people bumbling about in vaguely humorous situations and a bumbling Englishman falling for a woman who's out of his league?

His stuff is pretty formulaic, you don't even need to read the blurb to know what you're going to get.

Oh I'd forgotten about the office romance with the martyr woman who can't have a life of her own because of her brother.

Another bleurgh. I always wondered how we're supposed to take that particular storyline.

Squoosh, do you not know that one of the joys of mumsnet, is nitpicking analysis of total trivia?

do you not know that one of the joys of mumsnet, is nitpicking analysis of total trivia

But of course

I just wish they'd throw another film into the mix once in a while!