Opening lines (by Hugh grant)...
“Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow airport. General opinion started to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed – But I don’t see that. Seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy but it’s always there. Fathers & sons, mothers & daughters, husbands & wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the twin towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from people on board were messages of hate of revenge. They were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find love actually … is all around.”
Its 5 weeks to Christmas and the following ten stories unfold… the characters are all in some way or the other interlinked with each other (I’ve written them as per my favorites)
(10) Domestic issues- A woman struggling with her brother who’s in the mental institution... yet seeks out for love. She’s interested in a guy at her workplace but is constantly interrupted by her brother’s need for attention.
(9) Infidility- The guy’s (Colin Firth) madly in love with his girl but in turn he catches her sleeping with his brother! aaah agony.
(8) Man infatuated with assistant- roving eye! In spite of being happily married to a wonderful woman (Emma Thomson), & having wonderful kids too… tsk tsk… a clichéd reality of life. The subtle anguish and anxiousness that the wife goes through is shown brilliantly.
The assistant, when asked by the man about the venue for the office Christmas party- “It’s an art gallery. Full of dark corners for doing dark deeds”
(7) love sees no boundaries- This ones a keeper- An American author (Colin Firth again) hopelessly falls for a stunning looking Portuguese girl named Aurelia- they don’t speak/ understand each others language, yup, cant get a word of what the other’s saying! Yet they fall in love! Engaging!
(6) Man in love with his best friend’s girl- Haven’t we all gone through this/ watched some one go through this! (And this ones for all you Keira Knightly fans). The guy goes into “self preservation mode” by staying away from the girl… which is mistaken for him not liking her at all! But your heart goes all out to him when she finds out the truth. Heartwarming moment: We he shows up at her apartment as a carol singer!
(5) Lust & Libido- Colin, a hopeless case, dying to get laid, is feddup of british babes- & truly believes that is not HIM, its THEM!
Colin: “I’ve just worked out why I can’t find true love. English girls! They’re stuck up you see!
Friend: Colin, you’re a lonely ugly ** Accept it.
Colin: “Never! I’m Colin, God of sex. I’m just in the wrong continent that’s all! Stateside I’m Prince William… without the weird family!” !!!
So he flies off to America for a holiday, being pretty sure that that’s where he’ll find what he’s looking for! And guess what happens! May sound cheesy but is pretty amusing!
(4) Pop singer & manager- An aging pop singer Billy Mack (Bill Nighy)- trying to revive his career [with a new Christmassy version of the wet wet wet song love is all around- “Christmas is all around…so c’mon & let it snow!”] & his (platonic) relationship with his manager... Watch out for the singer’s witty repartees and care-a-damn attitude!
On a Live TV telecast “Hi kids, here’s a very important message from your uncle Bill. Don’t buy drugs…. Become a pop star and they give you them for free!”
(3) Nude all the way!- All you guys who watched this movie in theatre / television have missed this one. Jack and Judy work as stand-ins/ body doubles for some X-rated bedroom scenes for a movie. It’s incredible- even though most of the story is shot with the two of them in nude- It still has that certain innocence to it! They shyly attempt to engage each other in small talk about traffic etc, asking each other little questions to get to know each other while "at work", just like a guy and a girl getting to know each other at a normal workplace!
When he nervously attempts asking her out while “at work”: “...er….sorry to be a bit forward and all that but you don’t fancy going out for a Christmas drink, do you? I mean nothing implied. Just may be go & do something Christmassy or something… er.. im rambling im sorry…” . Judy: “ That would be lovely!”
The loveliest scene is when towards the end, he drops her home & they have their innocent "first kiss"! (Unbelievable…….!)
(2) Prime minister & his catering manager- Aaah all you Hugh Grant fans! This one’s a treat- the most powerful man in the country- gets all weak on his knees when she’s around! "C’mon, get a grip! You’re the prime minister for Gods sake!" is what he reminds himself!
(1) Puppy love (Sorry but this one tops Hugh Grant!)- would looove to re-re-re-wind the scene when the worried step-dad digs into his 8 yr old son’s sadness (His mommie just passed away) to which the kiddo replies "The truth is actually, well, I’m in love" with an absolute straight face. The dad sighs in relief saying “oh I though it must me some thing worse” to which the son replies “Worse? Worse than the total agony of being in love?” sigh…..!
So after watching all these wonderful people going through various highs, lows, thrills and agony of love, we do find something everybody can relate to. The overall feel of the movie is light & frothy and not at all lenghty. A MUST MUST MUST WATCH for even you un-romantics out there!
Excellent background scores:
The trouble with love is- Kelly Clarkson
Both sides now--- Joni Mitchell
All I want for christmas—Mariah Carey/ Olivia Olson
God only knows- Beach boys
Here with me – Dido
Turn me on- Norah Jones
Too lost in you- sugarbabes
Songbirds- Eva Cassidy