Notting Hill

Notting Hill (1999)

William Thacker is recently divorced and owns a bookstore in Notting Hill. He shares a flat with a Welshman named Spike, and the two try to overcome a life of despair in their own way. One day, the famous Hollywood actress Anna visits his bookstore to buy a book. Shortly after, Thacker runs into her and spills juice on her. He then takes her to his flat to clean her up, where they end up sharing a kiss before Anna leaves.

Soon after, Anna invites him to the Ritz hotel, and soon after, a cute boy-meets-girl romance seems to be brewing with them. But as the life of a celebrity is constantly tumultuous, and with Anna struggling with indecision, Thacker must decide whether or not to pursue and claim the love of his life or go back to his rather peaceful, albeit lonely life.

I will be honest to say that I’m not the biggest fan of romantic comedies, but this one is in a class of its own, with scenes that will more or less leave you grinning from ear to ear. It’s a deeply engaging movie that is heartwarming and has all the elements that make it rightfully a romantic comedy classic.

One thing I love about Notting Hill is how beautifully it utilizes its star actors. Both Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts deliver well on their roles in a way that leaves no room for doubt. I love how laid-back Hugh Grant’s character is. I don’t know if that’s a reflection of how he is in real life, but it was a classy role. He didn’t do too much, and even the cheesy lines are delivered with finesse and a way that doesn’t make you cringe.

The story is deeply unrealistic in my opinion. It’s those kinds of movies, you know, that have no possibility of happening, but you enjoy them anyway because they’re just that good. Sure, there are a lot of logical loopholes, but I don’t know, you tend to look at the bigger picture with films like these. Maybe trust the process. The heroine was quite annoying with all her indecisiveness, but we can’t have everything, can we? Hope you enjoy!

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