This 2003 romantic comedy drama, directed by Richard Curtis (the writer of Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral), weaves in and out of the love lives of eight loosely inter-related couples. The bachelor prime minister falls for his personal assistant, his brother-in-law is flirting with one of his colleagues, a writer heads off to France and pursues an affair with a maid, and an 11-year-old boy asks his father for advice on matters of the heart.
There's plenty to like here. Hugh Grant (pictured) is on fine form as the endearing Prime Minister who falls for junior staff member Martine McCutcheon (pictured), there's terrific support from Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Liam Neeson, while Bill Nighy almost steals the show as a drug-crazed, potty-mouthed rocker. And at one stage Colin Firth nearly recreates his famous Darcy scene when he dives into a lake, fully clothed.
Sadly, not everything works. Frankly there are far too many storylines going on and there's insufficient time to develop some of the plots and characters. The movie could probably have benefited by being a little shorter with some of the background players left on the cutting-room floor.
Love Actually is a Film programme that first aired in 2003 and has been classified a 15 certificate.
