"Love Actually" weaves lovable cast together

Sometimes when really great romantic comedies come along it's hard to know whether to make fun of them for being cheesy or just appreciate them for being hilarious and fun. "Love Actually," writer and director Richard Curtis' latest flick starring Hugh Grant, is one of those films that can be appreciated for being side-splitting funny. The film doesn't focus solely on romantic love the way most romantic comedies do. It looks at people's love for everyone special in their lives. Curtis and Grant also collaborated for "Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Notting Hill" and "Bridget Jones' Diary." As their fourth film together, "Love Actually" gives cause for questioning whether or not the two will ever make a movie without each other. But, if it keeps on working, why should they? "Love Actually" is about a group of people all connected to each other in some way who are looking for love at Christmas time. It takes a while to figure out a few of the connections, but everything comes together eventually. Grant plays the British prime minister, who at his first day on the job, falls for a member of his staff. He says he is a career man with no time for love, but can't resist the soft spoken Natalie (Martine McCutcheon). Jamie (Colin Firth) gets a kick in the stomach from his longtime girlfriend in the beginning of the story, but goes on to find love in an unlikely place. Daniel (Liam Neeson) struggles with the recent death of his wife but begins to heal by building a relationship with his introverted but adorable stepson. All of the characters are equally lovable, including slightly neurotic Sarah (Laura Linney), her boss Harry (Alan Rickman), who is coveted by his secretary, his frustrated wife Karen (Emma Thompson), sweet Juliet (Kiera Knightley) and even the dirty old rock star (Bill Nighy). The idea of "Love Actually" is that it doesn't matter if a person loves her brother whose disability runs her life, or a singer loves his manager or a man loves his best friend's wife. Everyone loves someone. "If you just look, love actually is all around us," the film opens. "Love Actually" is the perfect new holiday film. It won't depress single people because it will help them realize they are not alone, and it will make coupled people appreciate each other. The movie is full of hilarious scenes and the cast works perfectly together. Die-hard romantic comedy haters obviously should stay away, but anyone with a heart and sense of humor will love it. Grade: B+