By Spencer Coile
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Every holiday season, we sit down with our favorite festive movies and return to the magic these films have to offer. Some turn to classics such as It’s a Wonderful Life or the various renditions of A Christmas Carol. Others favor Die Hard, Gremlins, or something a bit more contemporary -- The Family Stone, anyone? Regardless, we come back to our favorites for comfort and a jolly mood.
Love Actually, to me, is that Christmas movie. Using the “interwoven lives” structure that so many rom-coms have since used disastrously, Love Actually uses the formula with beautiful effect. The result is a kindhearted, giant hug of a film that always manages to lift the spirits. Put on your holiday hats as we rank the 9 storylines...
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09. Colin & the American Girls (Kris Marshall, January Jones, Elisha Cuthbert, Shannon Elizabeth, & Ivana Miličević
Colin wants to have more sex, and because he does not feel he can find that in London, he travels to Wisconsin to fulfill his needs. There, he meets a group of weirdly horny hotties and he shacks up with them. Harmless, but insignificant compared to the rest.
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08. Prime Minister David and Natalie (Hugh Grant & Martine McCutcheon)
This might be the most controversial ranking, because this seems like a focus of the film. While there are some genuine moments throughout David and Natalie’s short relationship, the whole ordeal feels unintentionally clumsy. For instance, must we constantly be bombarded with Natalie’s “weight issues?” This is never reconciled or explored, but instead, a facet of her personality that David accepts. Perhaps he could’ve taken a cue from Mark and presented her with a “To me, you are perfect” sign.
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07. Juliet, Peter, & Mark (Keira Knightley, Chiwetel Ejiofor, & Andrew Lincoln)
Speaking of Mark’s signs, this will go down as one of the most iconic scenes in the film. Mark is in love with Juliet, but sadly for Mark, she just got married to his best friend. What’s a boy to do? Profess his love for her and move on, of course! It is a scene that is equal parts affirming and heartbreaking. At the same time, though, isn’t it also a touch stalker-ish?
06. Billy Mack & Joe (Bill Nighy & Gregor Fisher)
Bill Nighy is fantastic as washed-up rock singer Billy Mack, and Gregor Fisher is the perfect, downtrodden counterpart to Nighy’s eccentricities, as his manager. Unfortunately their relationship does not get the attention it deserves until their final scene.
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05. Sarah & Karl (Laura Linney & Rodrigo Santoro)
Laura Linney is positively loopy here. Clumsy and awkward and oh so relatable she pines after her coworker, Karl. Her unhinged excitement after their first kiss leaves her (and us) giddy. But sadly, as we come to learn, her brother is not mentally well and she is the only one who cares for him. So rather than be with Karl for one magical night, she goes to be with her brother. Easily one of the film’s most compelling stories, it feels odd that there is no conclusion to it.
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04. Daniel & Sam (Liam Neeson & Thomas Sangster)
A recently widowed Daniel helps his young stepson Sam win over the love of his life. Complete with Titanic recreations, an “All I Want for Christmas is You” rendition, and a magical chase scene through the airport, this storyline is full of that Christmas spirit. But both Daniel and Sam seem to get over the death of their wife and mother way too quickly, don't you think?
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03. John & Judy (Martin Freeman & Joanna Page)
This is surely the sweetest storyline. Both stand-ins for famous film actors, John and Judy meet and bond with one another while they simulate sex. As their positions become increasingly more awkward, they in turn, become more comfortable with one another. That contrast is adorable and makes for an innocently fun plot amongst the more dramatic stories.
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02. Jamie & Aurelia (Colin Firth & Sienna Guillory)
You could argue that Jamie and Aurelia’s romance happens too quickly, but Firth and Guillory's impeccable chemistry makes it easy to forgive. Their lost-in-translation conversations could have gone horribly awry (making one look like the fool over the other), but fortunately the script balances this out and they both come across as foolish – but all in a way that is comical and helps their relationship grow. Their final scene may make your heart grow three sizes.
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01. Harry, Karen, & Mia (Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Heike Makatsch)
When all is said and done, it is really Emma Thompson who is the MVP of this film. Her performance as Karen is so layered and it's easy to get caught up in the love triangle she shares with her husband, Harry and his secretary, Mia. She wants to believe that her husband would never be the type of man who strays away from his family, so to watch her disillusionment slowly sink in is astonishing and heart-rending. This thread carries the heaviest emotionals in the film.
Of course, by the film’s end, almost everyone has a sweet conclusion with a little Christmas bow on top. This should not be surprising, considering it opens with a voice-over from Prime Minister David, where he says:
If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.
And while this sentiment is quite sappy, it captures the Christmas spirit perfectly. It is warm and generous, just like Love Actually. So as we all hunker down and prepare for the holidays, take the time to enjoy your favorite Christmas movie -- and let the holiday feeling wash over you.
Further reading:
Chris's take on Love Actually's soundtrack
Netflix's new hit A Christmas Prince
Edward Scissorhands is a Christmas movie