I really do love this movie. But, it’s not one of the Holiday movies that I watch over and over again. I honestly don’t think I can without getting emotionally drained. It’s the ending that does it to me. First the characters we’ve gotten to know in the film come together to hug, kiss and love one another. And then it’s random other people at the airport. All different types of people at all ages, all races, all kinds of love. As shitty as humans can be, I can’t help but love them/us. The airport setting is so perfect for this. I have been alone for the holidays before. I know what it means to see family and friends for the first time in a while.
Let me just say that I hate Hugh Grant. I’ll say that again…I hate Hugh Grant. But damn if I don’t love him in this movie. I love his stupid little dance while listening to Jump (For my Love) all over 10 Downing Street. I love the look he gives his driver when the man surprisingly belts out a Christmas Carol in perfect baritone. I love when he stands up to Billy Bob president of the US in the press conference. I swear it makes me proud to be an Englishman, which of course I am not.
Rowan Atkinson, aka Mr. Bean is someone I could never understand or appreciate from a comedic standpoint. I love him now. His performance in Love Actually was brilliant. Reminds me of a guy I used to work with in a deli back in high school. That man put the same attention to detail and love into building a sandwich that Rowan did in wrapping a Christmas present. Just don’t expect either one finished in the flashiest of flashes.
God, do I love the wedding part at the beginning when the best man pulls of one of those flash mob type things. Musicians and singers start popping up all over the church doing All You Need is Love by the Beatles. Man, I’d give anything to have thought of something like that. This is the same guy of course, that is in love with Keira Knightley. Duh, who isn’t?
I love a Bay City Rollers themed funeral. I too would like a musical farewell…maybe Closing Time by Semisonic? How can you not love a movie that makes you feel sympathy for Liam Neeson of all people? I love that his step-son learns to play drums in order to woo his big crush. Drummer’s always seem to get the girl, and no different here. Needed a little help from Mr. Bean to realize that, though. Damn, this movie even got me to love a Mariah Carey Christmas song.
Love hearing Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean:Dead Man’s Chest sing that ridiculous Christmas version of The Troggs song too.
The aging rocker is hilarious at every moment in the film up to and including the part when he professes love for his fat manager.
What really makes me love this movie though, is that it has the single greatest marriage proposal ever. Well, greatest next to my own of course. I mean, how could you possibly top going to the future wife’s workplace and having her paged to the front, followed by some incoherent stammering and eventual revelation of the ring? If I didn’t have the foresight to produce the ring at that moment, she may never have known what the hell I was talking about.
Okay, the real deal is a guy learning to speak another language so he can go to the restaurant where his prospective fiancé works in order to propose. Everyone loves a public proposal…probably more so when she ultimately says no. But to do this, using a newly learned language in front of native speakers is awesome. And then to find out that she had also learned his language…just in cases. Such a cool moment. This part gives me goose bumps every time I see it and I wish I had done something so impressive when I proposed.
So, when the movie goes from that scene into the ending with all the hugs, kisses and love how can you not get choked up? How can you not fall in love with humanity all over again? It’s not quite Field of Dreams level tearing up, but damn if it isn’t close. The Beach Boys will never sound the same again to me.
Love at home beats all the shite we encounter out in the world and on social media. I promise you there is hope for us after all.
Chico
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