Love Actually annoyances

[marychristmas22]

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?

Why would the PM go door to door looking for an ex employee? It's a bit concerning that no 10 wouldn't have a record of where staff lived

*daughter

Some of you need to lighten up a bit.
This film was made 20 years ago. Of course it's going to have problems now.

Yes attitudes have changed but if you've grown up with this film, like I did, you take it for what it is.

There are still some properly funny bits in it. Why can't people just enjoy the film for what it is and not pick apart the completely unrealistic and unrelatable bits.
If you want that go and sit down your local high street and film everyone walking past going about their day.

"My brother has mental health issues and rings me up at inconvenient times for reassurance "

That's all she needed to say, no wonder her boyfriend thought she was playing games.

Actually liked the "All I want for Christmas is you, and you and you and you and you" bit. Though, as Peter Griffin said, no way could that boy learn the drums That quickly.

Well probably because if he did it the most 'correct' and appropriate way, it wouldn't make good entertainment and people would switch it off.

It’s the timeline and logistics that get me. All of the schools in the area get together to do a Christmas show, with all the parents squeezing into a single school hall. Gets never fit them all in!? How would the tickets be allocated?! How long would it be? How bored would all the kids be having to sit and listen to everyone else’s song for hours! On Christmas Eve, as well?! Why are the porn couple there-have they got nothing better to do on Christmas Eve than go to a school concert??

Alan Rickman’s office booking their Xmas work do three weeks before Xmas.

LN’s wife’s funeral being what 5 weeks before Xmas and then, Emma T telling not to cry because nobody will shag him?!

Still love it though!

That bit always makes me laugh. Everyone's available on Christmas Eve. No one has travelled four hours away to spend Xmas with granny and so on

I had the impression that the Emma Thompson character and the widower are very old friends and she knew she could say something like that to him because he wouldn't take offense? (Despite it sounding pretty awful. )
He seems to be eyeing up Claudia Schiffer at the end anyway. So he is ready to move on very quickly too.
For a few minutes work she received 50 k or something I read once!
Love the lobster too and the PM having to share a cab with it.
You just know that him and ' fat' Martine will be so happy together as well

I agree but still watch it. Always thought the Laura Linney story was shoehorned in so there would be an American name in the credits.

Alan Rickman's character is such an idiot in that film, but making Laura linneys character realize she was in love with Carl was touching.
Out of all of them , I felt sorry for her the most
Rowan as an Angel is perfect though

I also get all of the above but there are two things I'll love about this film forever:

1. The best line in a film EVER when Martine M has to get ready for the PM and runs downstairs and shouts to her family "Where the F is my F-ing coat!!!?!?"

and

1. When the girl that the little boy is totally and utterly in love with is revealed and she's a beautiful little black girl, it honestly melted my heart as it was so unexpected. You do not see this often in mainstream films, especially back in the day... trust me. I say this as as a black woman with a daughter. Silly I know, especially as she's only one of about three black people in the whole film... but it chokes me up every time! ☺️☃️

I can't stand the film. It's absolute tripe, everything about it is annoying.

OK 🙄

I have many thoughts

1. so many tedious fat jokes
2. why do so many of the relationships involve men pursuing much younger women in their employment??
3. Alan Rickman’s character is, rightfully, hated for cheating on his lovely wife but the film doesn’t actually suggest that he should also be viewed as a rancid old creep for pursuing a sexual relationship with his secretary who is at least 20 years younger than him
4. Liam Neeson’s wife dies and both he and her son appear to be pretty much over it and moved on by Christmas. He’s making eyes at Claudia Schiffer literally just weeks after her funeral and the kid is like ‘yeah I’m a bit sad mum is dead but my real heartache is this eleven year old girl not loving me back’
5. why was Kiera Knightely cast as a newlywed when she was 17 years old
6. why are all the American girls characterised as dumb sluts

The only storyline I really like is the porn movie lighting stand ins tbh.

Part of my enjoyment of cheesy rom coms is whinging about the impausibility of it all
I can watch them at face value at the cinema and because you shouldn't talk there but in the comfort of my own home moaning about how silly/unrealistic/implausible things are, is part of watching the film!

@Crishell the attitudes and behaviour weren't acceptable when the film came out either. Most people I knew hated that film and couldn't understand why it was successful. Totally misognistic and cringey!

Aren't they brother and sister?

Why not? Maybe his stepdad had been in his life since he was a baby, and was essentially his dad.

@Gotosleepnow2023 I loathed that film, but the kids bit is the only bit I thought " Awww cuties".

@ImFloatingInAMostPeculiarWay no, Emma Thompson's character is Hugh Grant's sister.

As an aside, I've seen love actually several times and have no idea what any of the characters are actually called. Only the actors.

I never understand these threads.
Love Actually is a cheesy unrealistic romcom which is very much of its time, complete with all the politically incorrect features that wouldn’t be tolerated these days.
If you don’t like it, don’t watch it.

Yes to all mentioned. But I had no sympathy for KK husband. At the wedding him and his friend are talking about the prostitutes that turned out to be men. Implied cheating or attempting to.

I hated the Laura Linney storyline so much

Really not seen any?

Comes up so many times https://www.google.com/search?q=%22love+actually%22+mumsnet

I fucking hate this film. Its a sexist middle aged man's version of romance. It was problematic 20 years ago never mind now. I met someone once and he said this was his favourite film and that was enough of a red flag for me

yes it's problematic...but I still really like it.

I also like The Proposal and The Holiday and Notting Hill. Shoot me.