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Notting Hill (Collector's Edition) Customer Reviews (49 - 51 of 59 Reviews)

Amiable and sweet-natured
For screenwriter Richard Curtis' follow-up to the unexpected success of Four Weddings and a Funeral, he had to capitalise by importing big name star Julia Roberts. Whilst he does this, the result is nowhere near as personable as the excellent Four Weddings or the later Bridget Jones' Diary, despite it being probably the best romantic comedy of 1999. The story has poor bookshop owner William Thacker (Grant) meeting famous actress Anna Scott (Roberts) by accident and them forming a relationship that has to overcome the problem of Anna's celebrity. Of course, the answer is obvious from the very beginning, although there are enough flourishes and nice touches to make this much well worth seeing for any movie-goer, no matter how cynical.

In particular, the supporting cast is a charm (mainly consisting of well-known British TV actors), in particular the wonderful Emma Chambers as William's sister. Carrying over her performance as Alice in British comedy The Vicar of Dibley, she steals just about every scene she's in. Of course, it would be impossible to overlook the main performers and Grant is amiable enough doing his typical role as the English fop. Of course, the real interesting point of note there is that this was the role that rescued him from his ugly public persona at the time. As for Julia Roberts, she has appropriately enough never looked more beautiful, and puts in a charismatic performance (despite it not being quite as memorable as her tour de force in Erin Brockavich) that in particular shines at the end when she presents William with the choice to be with her or not. Managing to portray vulnerability she is every bit the luminous actress that the role demands of her.

There isn't really much to fault the film for, just the fact that it isn't particularly anything special. Indeed, it's telling that things are a lot more interesting when we're not focused on the leads' romance. Especially, what was probably meant as a study of the nature and absurdities of celebrity doesn't really come together. This has nothing to do with the acting but more the fact that it's difficult to take seriously something that presents itself openly as a fairytale romance. Or maybe this was the point, but if it's that love can conquer all then it's hardly unconventional. Still, the vein of wonderful British humour (along with Emma Chambers and Rys Ifans) make this enjoyable and sweet without ever succumbing to sentimentality. Sure it's no classic but you'll be hard pushed to find something more sweet-natured.

A Brilliant Romantic Comedy
After watching a recent but not great romantic comedy, I watched NOTTING HILL to clean my palate. It tasted so good. So refreshing. It is one of the best romantic comedies of the last 10 years. It is, in fact, brilliant.
The lead actors are Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. Roberts plays a movie star, Anna Scott, trapped by the gilded cage of her own stardom. She is plays it uptight and bitchy. She's not very happy and that makes her bitchy. So if you don't like her, well heck, she did it well, didn't she? She also plays it a bit reserved, shy, which is probably how most performers are underneath their stardoms. Then there is Hugh Grant. He plays William Thacker, charming "average bloke" who owns a travel bookshop. Now nobody can play charming like Hugh Grant. He can play a charming rogue, charming cad, and a charming average bloke as he does here. Grant could probably charm the pants off a turnip, which is, something if you think about it. (I am sure there's a charming serial killer psychopath in Grant's future, so I look forward to the day of Hannibal, Jr.).
The supporting cast members play a motley bunch of quirky characters, Will's friends and family. They are all wonder, especially the actor who plays Will's flatmate. But most important of all, they are all integrated in the plot. They're not just standing about doing nothing.
The writing by Richard Curtis is brilliant and funny. Very funny. I mean really funny. Not forced funny. The actors delivered it perfectly. The directing was great. There is a scene where Will is dejected because Anna has rejected him. He walks through the scenery of Notting Hill as the seasons change. He's in the same clothing. We see a woman who is pregnant woman at the beginning of this and the same woman with a child at the end. It was a clever and perfect way to show time passing by as Will wallows in his depression.
I liked most of the music except the one called She. It was a bit strident and maudlin and yet strangely like a soap commercial. That's probably my only complaint.
The dvd includes a funny featurette by Grant and deleted scenes. The flatmate is even funny as all get out in those.
So if you want to watch a clever, witty, charming modern day fairy tale where the princess (movie star) marries the tradesman (bookstore owner) than NOTTING HILL is the film to watch. Buy it and watch it over and over again.

so very bad
Despite the fact that it is beautifully filmed in a wonderful part of London, and that every other character in this film is brough to life very well, Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant have absolutely NO chemistry. The Julia character is just a pain with no redeeming qualities, and I could not believe she had any at any point. And since that is the crux of the whole movie, I didn't enjoy it. It is as bland as watching a self-absorbed couple you know in real life talk about relationships ad nauseum. ugh.

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