Monica Heisey, writer of Really Good Actually and creator of Sky's Smothered, joins the hosts to rank every relationship in Love Actually. They discuss criticism and celebration of rom-coms, controversy surrounding the movie, wardrobe design in rom coms, critique of story structure, problematic aspects of the film, weight-related themes, analyzing scenes, and Monica's book and TV show.
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Quick takeaways
Love Actually explores various relationships and their complexities.
The movie showcases the possibility of finding love in unexpected places.
Controversial aspects of the film include age difference and grand gestures.
Infidelity and its consequences are central themes in Love Actually.
Deep dives
Colin and his stand-in friends
The storyline follows Colin, a man fed up with his romantic prospects in England. He decides to go to America, where he believes British men are valued and finds success with American women, despite his awkwardness.
Laura Lenny and her caretaker role
Laura Lenny plays a woman who is the guardian for her disabled brother, which puts her own life on hold. The storyline explores the challenges she faces in balancing her responsibilities and her own desires for love and companionship.
Colin and his writing retreat in France
Colin Firth plays a man who flees to the south of France after discovering his wife's infidelity. While there, he falls in love with his Portuguese housekeeper, despite the language barrier. The storyline highlights the connections that can be formed beyond words and the possibility of finding love in unexpected places.
Keira Knightley and the cue cards
Keira Knightley's character discovers that her husband's best friend, Andrew Lincoln, has been secretly in love with her. He reveals his feelings through a series of cue cards on her doorstep. While controversial for some due to the age difference and the stalker-ish aspect, the storyline embodies the grand romantic gesture often seen in romantic comedies.
Bill Nighy's Christmas number one
Bill Nighy's character records a cheesy Christmas song and navigates the world of fame and success.
Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon's romance
The Prime Minister falls in love with a member of his staff, leading to a charming and joyous romance.
Emma Thompson's emotional journey
Emma Thompson's character deals with the heartbreak of her husband's infidelity and finds strength in her resilience.
Alan Rickman's struggle with temptation
Alan Rickman's character faces the allure of an affair and the consequences it has on his marriage.