Despite the massive affection and fan base for Four Wedding and A Funeral (1994) and Love Actually(2003), Notting Hill is a far superior film in the Richard Curtis penned canon. Not only is it tremendously funny but its a pitch perfect romance too and the cast are all impeccable. Hugh Grant as William, a humble bookshop owner, has the same bumbling, foppish and charming englishness he always does so well but here he adds a complexity and emotional range that gives the character some real depth. William lives in Notting Hill and one day he has a chance meeting with Anna Scott (Julia Roberts), a world famous Hollywood actress and over the course of the story they fall in love. It's a real Cinderella story but delves effectively into the price of fame and celebrity. Aided by Tim McInnerny, Gina McKee, Hugh Bonneville, Rhys Ifans and Emma Chambers the film never has a misstep and it really does leave you feeling warm and feeling you've watched a film with real heart. It has the best romantic line I've ever heard in a film and it deserves more accolade than it often receives. A truly lovely film, I never tire of watching it.
Not my usual sort of film but it was quite cute. Julia Roberts great as always. Hugh Grant well...Hugh Grant!