Guide Note

Love Actually is a 2003 British romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis.

Fast Facts

1. Director/Writer: Richard Curtis
2. Release Date: November 6, 2003
3. Starring: Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth, Bill Nighy, Laura Linney
4. Runtime: 135 min
5. MPAA rating: R
6. Distributor: Universal Pictures

Love Actually chronicles ten different love stories in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Each story depicts a unique type of love, and not all have happy endings.

Some scenarios, like the one between Prime Minister David (Hugh Grant) and staff member Natalie (Martine McCutcheon), are typical boy-meets-girl situations. Others are either bittersweet or somber, including Juliet (Keira Knightley) and Mark's (Andrew Lincoln) storyline, which was about unrequited love.

Perhaps the most humorous storyline, featuring aging rockstar Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) and his manager Joe (Gregor Fisher), explored a platonic love in the form of an enduring friendship.

Both praised and criticized for its sentimentality, the film has a 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics split between whether its charms worked or not.

The public, preparing for the holiday season at the time of its release, flocked toLove Actually, which grossed $247.4 million worldwide.