Love Actually

I have just finished watching the most wonderful movie in the world. If you know anything about movies, you'll know of course that I am talking about Love Actually. This movie has everything: an all-star cast, an amazing soundtrack, and a storyline that will make any romantic or closet romantic sigh with a huge, dreamy smile. I have a huge, immovable smile plastered on my face and I have that warm fuzzy feeling all over. It's such a great movie! I don't think I went five minutes without going, "awww..." or without tearing up or without saying "that's so sweet!" By now, you've probably guessed, it is mostly a chick flick. I say mostly because there are some parts that are definitely appealing to the masculine sex - I'm sorry to stereotype you, guys, but there it is. The movie consists of a series of interconnected stories, each one dealing with love in all of its various forms. Here is a brief synopsis of all the different stories:

There is the cutest little boy, Sam, whose mother has just passed away. He's living with his step-father, Liam Neeson, who aside from having gorgeous blue eyes (my favorite color!), is finding the death of his wife hard to deal with, much less the silent grief Sam seems to be suffering. Sam has been keeping to his room all the time, and when he leaves it, it's obvious that he's been crying. When Liam confronts Sam, Sam reveals that yes, he is grieving for his mother, but, oddly enough, he's in love!

Emma Thompson plays Liam Neeson's friend, who helps him deal with his grief, and gives him advice for helping Sam. She is married to Alan Rickman, and has two young children about Sam's age, who always keep her on her motherly toes.

Alan Rickman is the head honcho of a design firm whose sinfully pretty secretary is determined to have an affair with him. Let's just say he doesn't make the wisest decision, and when his wife finds out...tears all around.

Laura Linney, who has worked for Alan Rickman's company for two years, three months, twelve days and three hours, has also been in love with the enigmatic chief designer Karl for two years, three months, twelve days, and an hour and thirty minutes. Alan Rickman starts putting pressure on her to do something about it - which ends up in her most heartfelt dreams coming true for a moment. She also has a brother who is mentally ill and lives in a psychiatric ward who calls her constantly. She is the only one he has, and the entire relationship is heart-wrenchingly sweet.

Hugh Grant plays David, the Prime Minister of the UK, and Emma Thompson's big brother. On his first day in office, he becomes enamored with his blundering head of catering, Natalie. He becomes more and more attracted to her, until heartbreak in the form of Billy Bob Thorton presents itself, and it is left to Natalie to bring them together in the end.

Keira Knightley is marrying Peter, the love of her life. After the ceremony Peter's best friend Mark, sets it up so that some big singer performs just as they prepare to go to the reception. He films the entire thing, and when Keira Knightely asks to see his material because all the stuff she had came out all blue and wibbly, her gives her the cold shoulder and ends the conversation. The reason for this brusqueness is revealed eventually. Sniffle.

One of the catering people at Keira Knightley's wedding is convinced that the reason he cannot get a date is because English girls are stuck up. He decides to go to exotic Wisconsin because the American girls there would seriously dig his cute British accent. This is one of the more humorous segments.

And then that guy's friend is a film director, who happens to be filming the stand-ins for the 'affectionate' scenes in a main-line motion picture. The stand-ins, Judy and John, act out all of the scenes in their birthday suits, and yet when they actually go out on a date, they are so painfully shy with eachother it would be hilarious if it weren't so sweet.

Colin Firth plays a writer who discovers that his girlfriend has been cheating on him with his own brother. As he vacations in Brittany just before Christmas in a decidedly single state, he starts to take notice of his Portuguese housekeeper, Aurelia. Their bilingual budding relationship is perhaps the sweetest of all.

And then the best for last - Bill Nighy plays a has-been, mid-fifties rock star searching for a comeback with a lame Christmas song. His manager, Joe, has been behind him and with him every step of the way, and that evolves into a touching, man-to-man (no funny stuff) relationship.

That's all that I can recall right now. I love this movie, and as it is a Christmas movie, I will be watching it several times more in the coming days.