Notting Hill

At last, a romantic comedy that does justice to both the ROMANCE and the COMEDY, without overplaying either aspect. Written by Richard Curtis, who last wrote the delightful Four Weddings and a Funeral before taking a much-too-lengthy hiatus, Notting Hill is the perfect blend of chemistry and content.

The film stars Julia Roberts as Anna Scott, a major international movie star who lives nearly every moment of her life in the public eye. When Anna wanders into a tiny travel bookstore run by the quintessential self-effacing Brit, Hugh Grant (er, William Thacker), she is amused by his efforts to keep his cool despite his obvious admiration of her. When he foils a would-be shoplifter using courtesy and a sense of humor, Anna is further drawn to him. However, it's not until he accidentally douses her with an entire glass of orange juice, necessitating a quick trip to his apartment for a change of clothes, that she really begins to see his charms.

Rather than being appalled by the sloppy bachelor's apartment--complete with his hygiene-impaired flatmate, played hilariously by Rhys Ifans--Anna is struck by the goodness, self-deprecating wit, and sheer normality of Thacker. Of course, their mutual attraction doesn't come without complications, which make up much of the movie.

Julia Roberts turns in a very strong performance that beautifully illustrates the isolation and vulnerability lurking behind her luminous eyes and perfect skin. Her Anna is fiercely protective of her heart and her private life...but, as is often the case with mere mortals as well, that protectiveness almost proves to be her undoing.

Hugh Grant, in turn, plays a character not terribly different from the one he portrayed in Four Weddings and a Funeral: a young, slightly rumpled bachelor with floppy hair, a quick wit, and an uncertain smile. However, Grant has matured with this performance, showing us the depth of Thacker's feelings in a way he hasn't done in previous roles. At one point he refuses to see Anna again, after she has already broken his heart once. He describes how he just couldn't handle losing her a second time, only to be haunted by her image on every billboard, magazine and newspaper in town. Those of us watching can feel his pain in this scene, and understand--though perhaps still not agree with--his decision.

In addition to the two leads, Notting Hill features a very strong supporting cast, including the aforementioned flatmate, Emma Chambers as William's eccentric sister Honey (think Scarlet from Four Weddings, only taller and with orange hair instead of purplish-red), and a wonderful cameo by a well-known star as Anna's mismatched American boyfriend. As in Four Weddings, Grant's character has a sort of built-in network of friends and family that provide both advice and comic relief; the scene in which William brings Anna home to dinner with these friends for Honey's birthday is particularly entertaining.

All in all, this is one of the strongest romantic comedies of the decade, and definitely the best since Four Weddings and a Funeral. It's not without its flaws--William and Anna's first kiss came a little too soon for my taste, seeming a little forced; the soundtrack is a little patronizing at times (we don't need to hear "Ain't No Sunshine" while watching William mope around London without Anna to know he's feeling blue, thanks anyway); and a romantic coupling for William's sister came out of nowhere and was completely unnecessary.

Nonetheless, these are minor complaints for an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable film. Count on Julia's "Runaway Bride" (her 'reunion' match-up with Richard Gere) to be pushed back 'til the fall, because my guess is "Notting Hill" will be drawing crowds throughout the summer.