Romantic comedies are often cliche and overdone, so I expected very little when I went to see "Love Actually." This film could have easily gone for the "tug at your heart string moments" and the sentimentality synonymous with the Christmas season. While "Love Actually" does utilize this formula to some extent, it does not hinder the movie's message. I enjoy films that leave me feeling I am a better person for having watched. "Love Actually" tries to make its fairly simple theme clear from its opening lines: that love truly is all around, despite what the skeptics and cynics may say or think. The movie features a large and talented cast, which allows it to have a true ensemble feel. No actor really stands out, despite some of the bigger names in the movie such as Hugh Grant ("About a Boy"), Emma Thompson ("Sense and Sensibility"), Alan Rickman ("Harry Potter") and Colin Firth ("Bridget Jones' Diary"). Interrelated love stories are put on display as ten characters, all connected in different ways, try to figure out how to deal with their feelings for one another. Although some of these stories are obviously unrealistic, such as a scene where an eleven-year-old boy rushes through a high-security airport while he is chased by policemen in order to tell his crush how much he loves her, this film never pretends to be serious or intentionally tries to be overly poignant.

However, at times it does deal with the dark side of love. For instance, Thompson's character believes her husband is having an affair, though there is never any actual proof. We feel her pain as she makes this awful inference and tries to stay calm for the sake of her children.
Amidst all the sadness, "Love Actually" will leave you laughing. It is primarily a comedy, and it succeeds in this respect. Hugh Grant, the Prime Minister and narrator of this tale, falls for a member of his staff. The pair has many awkward and funny scenes, culminating with one very embarrassing and quite humorous moment. One Englishman believes that English women are too snobby. Against the advice of his friends, he heads for America in order to find himself tons of beautiful American women whom he believes will fall for his British accent.

There is little to be confused about in this film, which is very surprising, considering the complexly woven relationships between many of the characters. There is something for everyone in these love stories, and the best part of the film is that not all of the individual stories end happily. Some endings are quite unclear while that is very true of life, but not often true of romantic comedies.

"Love Actually" has a very impressive musical score. All of the songs add flavor to the characters in the stories and complement their development. The film begins and ends with family and friends meeting loved ones at an airport. Grant as a narrator explains that whenever he has lost faith in people's capacity to love, he watches people embrace their loved ones at the airport and feels confident that love is indeed everywhere. Upon leaving the theater, I had an uncontrollable urge to call my mother and hug a friend. If you're in the mood to laugh and to be moved, go see this film. But make sure to go with someone very dear to you.