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For a long time, “Actually Love” was one of those Christmas films that everyone can somehow agree on: In the episode film with ten main storylines, there was the right dose of kitsch and heartbreak for everyone.
One of them cried when Emma Thompson had to admit to herself over Joni Mitchell's singing that her husband was into another woman.
The other was happy when little Sam was able to impress his great love, while others laughed when Hugh Grant dances down the stairs in Downing Street as British Prime Minister to "Jump".
The film by director Richard Curtis, originally called "Love Actually", was released in 2003.
At that time, the generation that today determines pop-cultural issues was still in kindergarten: we're talking about Generation Z, who are not sacred, including cult Christmas films.
After all, everything really has to correspond to their ultra-woken values, which is why particularly critical representatives look at all of the older generations' favorite films with a downright disrespectful look: Are women treated sexist?
How do you talk about various body shapes?
And can you still enjoy the film, if only ironically?
The author at Christmas 2003
Source: private
In the case of “Love Actually”, after a thorough examination according to Gen-Z standards, one unfortunately cannot come to any other conclusion than that the number of film episodes that are funny and heartwarming is decreasing with each watch and the urge to fast forward is becoming more frequent actually transmits to the remote control.
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A short (spoiler-like) overview of the biggest
faux pas and moments of shame:
A character whose scenes you can safely skip? Absolutely everything with Colin!
Who on "You're a lonely, ugly asshole" with "Never.
I am Colin, the sex god!
I just live on the wrong continent ”replies, should perhaps really take a look at his self-image and especially his image of women.
If, instead, the dramaturgy rewards those two seconds after arriving on the other continent with all their sexist fantasies, it will be very painful to watch in 2020.
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Two relationships that are just annoying. Number one: the stalker-esque Bob Dylan memory scene
What is more romantic than when your husband's best friend, who has never had a proper conversation with you, shows up at your front door and confesses his love to you on cardboard signs?
Correct, quite a few.
Even actor Andrew Lincoln, who plays that best friend, is said to have asked the director during the filming if he doesn't seem a bit too much like a creepy stalker.
Yes he does!
Especially since the adored Juliet (Keira Knightley) can be nothing more than a mere projection of his fantasies for the admirer if he has never spoken to her.
The woman is made an object.
In return, the man, who obviously really doesn't know what women want, is rewarded with a kiss.
Cringe relationship number two: A picture book fuckboy - before Tinder existed
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“Two years, seven months and about an hour and thirty” is how long the office worker Sarah is in love with her colleague Karl at the beginning of the film.
At some point the two actually get closer - but Karl can't even wait for a phone call between Sarah and her brother, who lives in a psychiatric hospital, in the bedroom before he gets dressed and leaves.
That must be love.
Happy ending between English Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) and Natalie (Martine McCutcheon)
Source: picture-alliance / dpa
And three more moments that really make you angry in the film:
Why is Natalie constantly referred to as "fat"?
Martine McCutcheon, who plays the clerk Natalie, doesn't wear a size zero.
In 2003 apparently an occasion to address their weight in several scenes;
Above all, her thighs give reason for "comedic" processing.
Unpleasant!
At that time they had probably not heard of the #bodyneutrality concept ...
The glorification of aging rock stars:
The performances of Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) have aged badly.
Not necessarily because of him - he is just as funny and embarrassing as ever - but because of the camera work, which really leaves no opportunity to film on the breasts or in the crotch of the female band in their very short Christmas outfits.
An American president is caught sexually molesting a woman. And she gets fired
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Sure, US presidents had a history of sexual harassment in the workplace back in 2003, but in the Trump era and after #MeToo, the Martine McCutcheon and Billy Bob Thornton scene only looks grosser.
What is particularly annoying: The harassed woman still has to apologize for being grabbed and still loses her job.
The list could be expanded by a hundred points - but what's the point?
It is important to deal with the culture that you are consuming.
I'm getting personal now: “Love Actually” is probably one of the films I've seen the most in my life - and despite all the criticisms I know too well, I always enjoy watching it.
Yes, I stand by it!
Because many moments are still pure RomCom gold today.
The opening scene at Heathrow Airport is the perfect start to a film about love, as almost everyone knows the joy of seeing each other again.
The choice of music, even though or maybe precisely because it is so mainstream, lets me sway with it all the time and simply sets the perfect atmosphere for every scene.
In addition, you just have to love the film and its irony, because Billy Mack's song "Christmas Is All Around" is a parody of "Love Is All Around", the title track from the classic "Four Weddings and a Death" also written by Richard Curtis. - Hugh Grant also starred in the film.
Not to mention, there's hardly anything better to forget about the pre-Christmas stresses than watching a movie starring Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) and Mr. Bean (Rowan Aktinson) - when also in other roles.
In the end, sometimes the most important thing is simply to realize that something is wrong.
That too few women are in a photo of a party.
That no PoC can be found in a children's book.
Or just that relationships as portrayed in a film are not as romantic and desirable as they might be believed five (or 17) years ago.
To criticize films retrospectively, to put them in the context of modern times makes perfect sense.
But what is idiotic: demonizing the making of a film.
2003 was a different time - and by 2003 people were already aware that a romantic comedy only partially revealed the truth.
Demonizing the film as such is just as clever as criticizing Juliet and Romeo for the fact that Juliet is only 14 years old.
In this sense: Merry Christmas - and don't switch off your brain while watching a film, then you can even have conversations afterwards for the next Zoom call.
Do you still need tips for a relaxed series evening? Then listen to our podcast episode of THE REAL WORD with the best series recommendations for the end of the year!
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