"Surreal, but nice..."      

NOTTING HILL (PG-13)

Reviewed June 3, 1999 - Check out the Notting Hill Website.

Both Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts have each long held the promise of the great "romance-comedy lead."  Grant, who is a master at eliciting an "awwww, how cute!" reaction to his puppydog charms, perhaps showed this potential most clearly in the ever-popular Four Wedding and a Funeral.  Roberts, who's mastered the tough-outside/soft-inside character, has repeatedly charmed audiences in such films as Pretty Woman and My Best Friend's Wedding.  It probably makes some sense, then, that when Notting Hill (penned by Four Weddings writer Richard Curtis) was cast, Grant and Roberts were able to grab the lead roles. 

In this unassumingly quirky romantic comedy, Hugh Grant plays William Thacker, the owner of a small Travel Bookstore in the quaint English town of Notting Hill.  Living in a modest flat with his incredibly unkempt and scatterbrained roommate Spike (Rhys Ifans), William spends his days quietly minding his store, happily recommending travel guides to his occasional customers.  It's a very normal and stable life, until the one day when Anna Scott (Julia Roberts), the most famous film actress in the world, walks into his shop.  Let's see, is the word...chemistry?

William and Anna's chance encounter in his bookstore leads to another, then another, followed by an unexpected kiss...and a sudden goodbye.  Anna, who comes from America and is only visiting London, is attracted to William's quiet and normal life.  Seeking a chance to get away from the bright lights and unending scrutiny of the paparazzi, Anna finds a haven in William as she attempts to recapture her "personal life."  William, on the other hand, is starstruck, attracted to Anna for everything that she is, but also confused and intimidated by her fame and her globetrotting lifestyle. 

Will these two little lovebirds ever find a way to make it work?  This is the matter that Notting Hill occupies itself with, leading to what is for the most part an entertaining, funny, and likeable film led by its two stars.  As is the case with many romantic comedies, "charisma" is what determines success or failure of the film, and fortunately Notting Hill has lots of it.  From the charming London setting, to the often hilariously witty dialog, Notting Hill is a film that is filled with interesting scenes, lines, and characters.  Even the smaller, typically throwaway parts have life in this movie, with almost every character and sub-character graced with at least one memorable line.  "Do you have Winnie the Pooh, then?"  Heheh!! 

You'll have to go see the movie to get that last reference, but then again that really isn't such a bad thing.  As romantic comedies go, Notting Hill is a fairly good one.  Though there isn't anything particularly creative or original about this film, it is sweet, light, and full of likeable characters--obviously a film that tries to please and one that, for the most part, does.

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

Eoakwell@BTInternet.com gives this movie  stars. (12/13/00)

Filmmad@yahoo.com gives this movie  star: " Dire plot with more holes in than a string vest. you can see what coming next all the way through its pap!" (7/15/99)

Bill_Easton@prodigy.net gives this movie  stars: "Outstanding, great love story. Nice to find a movie like this once in a while. By far the best I seen in some time." (6/27/99)