Love Actually
Most Christmastime romantic comedies are sappy, the kind of movies you watch with a pint of ice cream and not a man in sight. Love Actually has the marked distinction of being a chick flick that appeals to both genders. It's full of touching holiday-perfect moments—a young boy's crush singing "All I Want for Christmas Is You" certainly spreads cheer—but it also provides plenty of chuckles. While it's sweet, it's not saccharine, and it proves that romantic comedies don't have to follow a boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-wins-girl-back formula. The touching new classic is a mosaic of love stories in every form—familial, forbidden, brotherly and true—and is the perfect seasonal reminder that, as the adorable Hugh Grant tells us, "Love actually is all around."
Published 12/01/2009
