'Love Actually' works well

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

LOVE ACTUALLY (R) Three-and-a-Half Stars (Good-to-Excellent) A downright epic romantic comedy, telling no less than nine, vaguely connected stories of love in all its manifestations. Setting it at Christmas only amplifies the film's mostly affectionate emotions. Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Laura Linney and Liam Neeson co-star for writer-director Richard Curtis. Universal, 135 minutes.

"Love Actually" sure tries.

It's a wonderfully optimistic film that lays it all on the line in its opening statement:

"General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that ... If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion that love actually is all around."

With that bravely said, Richard Curtis' film then reveals itself to be the most widespread romantic comedy ever made.

Grand statement, I know, but when it comes to amusing stories of the heart, "Love Actually" is downright epic, telling, as it does, no less than nine, vaguely connected stories of love in all its manifestations. Setting it at Christmas only amplifies the film's mostly affectionate emotions. Arriving the same early November weekend as "Elf" purports a long shelf life for this year's cinematic eggnog.

Among the impressive actors who share Curtis' visions of love in all its joys, complexities and pain are Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Martine McCutcheon, Bill Nighy and Alan Rickman.

Curtis, the screenwriter behind "Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Notting Hill," also directs here, for the first time. For his freshman outing, he's written himself a challengingly complex script, requiring the interlocking and balancing of at least nine storylines that explore love, betrayed love and unrequited love.

Curtis succeeds gloriously as director, giving each saga its due while maintaining clarity throughout. (As writer, he deserves praise for giving up what could have been the seeds of at least a half-dozen other films.)

Set in England in the weeks leading up to Christmas, "Love Actually" examines several scenarios. Among the best: A new prime minister (Hugh Grant) arrives at 10 Downing Street and falls instantly for his no-nonsense office assistant (McCutcheon). He doesn't get the gumption to demonstrate his love, though, until he's visited by a rather arrogant U.S. president (Billy Bob Thornton, in a cameo).

The PM's sister, Karen (Thompson) begins to suspect that her husband (Rickman) is considering an affair with his secretary (Heike Makatsch). The remarkable Thompson anchors the film with a complex portrayal that shows the pain of love.

A cuckolded novelist (Firth) exiles himself at a vacation retreat in the South of France, only to find himself infatuated with his Portuguese housekeeper (Lucia Moniz), who doesn't speak a word of English.

And, most hilarious of all, a way-over-the-hill pop singer (Nighy) tries to revive his career with a new Christmas song he knows is crap. The love in this case is within his friendship with his long-suffering manager (Gregor Fisher).

All too rare is the holiday film that not only makes you feel good, but also is good. "Love Actually" works.

Rated R, profanity, nudity, sexuality.