Annual Love Actually Rewatch

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We rewatched it last night because I needed holiday-themed background noise while I worked on a tedious project. My DH and I got into a big argument about whether or not the husband cheated. For 20 years DH has believed that there was no cheating and it wasn’t even an emotional affair?! And I have believed that there was for-sure, definite physical cheating but even if there wasn’t, it was as emotionally cheat-y as it gets.

My world was pretty rocked by finding out that my DH doesn’t think emotional cheating is a thing. His actual quote: “I think he was just a sad old man who was trying to get her to notice him by buying her a necklace. He didn’t do anything wrong by trying.” Mark my words, I am going to bring up Love Actually in divorce court.

Once I got over my own personal drama, I really enjoyed the door-to-door hunt for Natalie.

And I completely disagree with the anti-Colin Firth poster. That storyline alone could be a movie!

Okay - I'm the anti-Colin Firth poster. I do enjoy it - I just don't buy it. Without being able to communicate - get engaged? But, I would be totally up for a longer version that made me believe they could actually be in love. That said - some of the funniest parts of the movies are the subtitles for these two.

One more thing that bugged me this morning - all the relationships are hetero normative!

[Anonymous]

There is an interview with Richard Curtis where he talks about some of his regrets about the film, including the fat jokes.

https://variety.com/2023/film/news/love-actually-director-richard-curtis-regrets-fat-jokes-1235759661/

As an aside, DH and I recently watched Trading Places as a Christmas movie and boy, there are some things in that film that definitely didn’t age well. 😬

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We rewatched it last night because I needed holiday-themed background noise while I worked on a tedious project. My DH and I got into a big argument about whether or not the husband cheated. For 20 years DH has believed that there was no cheating and it wasn’t even an emotional affair?! And I have believed that there was for-sure, definite physical cheating but even if there wasn’t, it was as emotionally cheat-y as it gets.

My world was pretty rocked by finding out that my DH doesn’t think emotional cheating is a thing. His actual quote: “I think he was just a sad old man who was trying to get her to notice him by buying her a necklace. He didn’t do anything wrong by trying.” Mark my words, I am going to bring up Love Actually in divorce court.

Once I got over my own personal drama, I really enjoyed the door-to-door hunt for Natalie.

And I completely disagree with the anti-Colin Firth poster. That storyline alone could be a movie!

This makes no sense; he couldn't have given her the necklace to make her "notice him." She wouldn't stop noticing him. Aggressively. Her constant notice of him was what made him buy the necklace -- she literally asked for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We rewatched it last night because I needed holiday-themed background noise while I worked on a tedious project. My DH and I got into a big argument about whether or not the husband cheated. For 20 years DH has believed that there was no cheating and it wasn’t even an emotional affair?! And I have believed that there was for-sure, definite physical cheating but even if there wasn’t, it was as emotionally cheat-y as it gets.

My world was pretty rocked by finding out that my DH doesn’t think emotional cheating is a thing. His actual quote: “I think he was just a sad old man who was trying to get her to notice him by buying her a necklace. He didn’t do anything wrong by trying.” Mark my words, I am going to bring up Love Actually in divorce court.

Once I got over my own personal drama, I really enjoyed the door-to-door hunt for Natalie.

And I completely disagree with the anti-Colin Firth poster. That storyline alone could be a movie!

This makes no sense; he couldn't have given her the necklace to make her "notice him." She wouldn't stop noticing him. Aggressively. Her constant notice of him was what made him buy the necklace -- she literally asked for it.

Why couldn’t he tell her no? She stalks him and throws herself at him! He didn’t exactly initiate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Watch The Holiday instead. Please. Anything but this garbage movie.

I do like The Holiday and seriously envy both houses, but in two weeks Kate Winslet's character gets closer to her neighbor and to Jack Black's character than I've gotten to my neighbors in 20 years.

[Anonymous]

The made for TV version has all the porn stand in scenes cut out. My younger son wanted to watch it so we found it streaming.

[Anonymous]

We re-Watch it multiple times over the holidays but this year we analyzed who all the “sh**ty” people are.

Not many good people in this movie when you really look at it.

I decided that Hugh Grant/PM is the worst. Major misogynist who fires someone (who got a super rare gig working for the PM and could only go up from there) for being too attractive to work with. Then stalks her neighborhood door to door until he finds her (and she’s dumb enough to give him a chance after that but whole other discussion).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We rewatched it last night because I needed holiday-themed background noise while I worked on a tedious project. My DH and I got into a big argument about whether or not the husband cheated. For 20 years DH has believed that there was no cheating and it wasn’t even an emotional affair?! And I have believed that there was for-sure, definite physical cheating but even if there wasn’t, it was as emotionally cheat-y as it gets.

My world was pretty rocked by finding out that my DH doesn’t think emotional cheating is a thing. His actual quote: “I think he was just a sad old man who was trying to get her to notice him by buying her a necklace. He didn’t do anything wrong by trying.” Mark my words, I am going to bring up Love Actually in divorce court.

Once I got over my own personal drama, I really enjoyed the door-to-door hunt for Natalie.

And I completely disagree with the anti-Colin Firth poster. That storyline alone could be a movie!

I agree with you. He cheated!!

I really dislike this movie though. The characters aren't likeable (I know that's the point) I could never get into it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We rewatched it last night because I needed holiday-themed background noise while I worked on a tedious project. My DH and I got into a big argument about whether or not the husband cheated. For 20 years DH has believed that there was no cheating and it wasn’t even an emotional affair?! And I have believed that there was for-sure, definite physical cheating but even if there wasn’t, it was as emotionally cheat-y as it gets.

My world was pretty rocked by finding out that my DH doesn’t think emotional cheating is a thing. His actual quote: “I think he was just a sad old man who was trying to get her to notice him by buying her a necklace. He didn’t do anything wrong by trying.” Mark my words, I am going to bring up Love Actually in divorce court.

Once I got over my own personal drama, I really enjoyed the door-to-door hunt for Natalie.

And I completely disagree with the anti-Colin Firth poster. That storyline alone could be a movie!

This makes no sense; he couldn't have given her the necklace to make her "notice him." She wouldn't stop noticing him. Aggressively. Her constant notice of him was what made him buy the necklace -- she literally asked for it.

Why couldn’t he tell her no? She stalks him and throws herself at him! He didn’t exactly initiate.

You’ve never seen an old coot flattered by attention from a young woman?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do love this movie, but some parts have not aged well.

Agree that Natalie is not heavy! So much fat shaming in this film.

The porn story is so unnecessary.

I have a soft spot for Keira Knightley, I was studying abroad in the UK when she first became famous and adored her in movies from this time period.

That Hugh Grant dancing scene is hilarious.

I remember seeing this in the theater when it first came out, and definitely watch it every December.

Oh, and forgot to mention - I first saw it with a guy I was dating at the time who was from the UK, he cried at the ending. It makes me feel a bit nostalgic. We didn't end up working out and lost touch.

Did you date Jude Law? I'm always a bit turned off when he cries at the end of the Holiday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just rewatched it too. My thoughts:
- Yes she stays with her cheating husband - did he actually cheat? Why? Why? Very sad.
- Sarah was an idiot....
- Colin is the comic gem
- I still think Nathalie is NOT FAT though I'm never sold on any great love here
- Why is the porn stand in story in there? It would be a great family movie without him fondling her breasts while humping her from behind. Seriously!
- The little kid again steals the show
- and the aging rock star.
- Could have done without the Colin Firth storyline too.

100% agree with you! I wish there was a version without the porn storyline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just finished my annual rewatch of Love Actually. I don’t care if you do not care for it, I love it. It is heart warming, funny and charming!

Some questions and thoughts:

- Karen stays with her cheating husband, right?
- As someone whose husband cheated on her, Karen’s storyline hits very hard.
- Harry sleeps with Mia in exchange for the necklace?
- Why why why couldn’t poor Sarah not answer her brothers call to make love with her longtime crush?
- Colin and the American girls never gets old!

Just watched again (my holiday fave and it's on Netflix this yr!) and all the same feels, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watch The Holiday instead. Please. Anything but this garbage movie.

I do like The Holiday and seriously envy both houses, but in two weeks Kate Winslet's character gets closer to her neighbor and to Jack Black's character than I've gotten to my neighbors in 20 years.

NP and my parents never knew our neighbors at all but we are really close with a bunch of our neighbors so I get it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do love this movie, but some parts have not aged well.

Agree that Natalie is not heavy! So much fat shaming in this film.

The porn story is so unnecessary.

I have a soft spot for Keira Knightley, I was studying abroad in the UK when she first became famous and adored her in movies from this time period.

That Hugh Grant dancing scene is hilarious.

I remember seeing this in the theater when it first came out, and definitely watch it every December.

Oh, and forgot to mention - I first saw it with a guy I was dating at the time who was from the UK, he cried at the ending. It makes me feel a bit nostalgic. We didn't end up working out and lost touch.

Did you date Jude Law? I'm always a bit turned off when he cries at the end of the Holiday

Lol re PP dating Jude Law

I cried at the end of Love Actually. The airport scenes get me..but I cry at everything since having kids.

I love the kid in this move and that step parent relationship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The made for TV version has all the porn stand in scenes cut out. My younger son wanted to watch it so we found it streaming.

Where can I find the ‘made for tv’ version?