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Dec 24, 2017vickmeister rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
It's Christmastime in London and we are spending it with a charming ensemble of lovely Brits who are all experiencing love in their own individual ways. Appealingly played by a cast of familiar faces you've come to expect in British cinema: Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightly, Liam Neeson, et al. We see the joys and frustrations of love in all the phases of life: the wonder and awkwardness of discovering new love, the celebration of young marriage and sorrows of relationships coming apart, the pain of unrequited love, love and responsibility towards family and friends, and the tempting intrigue of what could be possible. I love this movie and it has become a holiday tradition in my house. Yes, it has its flaws; a couple of the storylines strain credibility but will make you smile, and fat jokes really fall flat in this day and age. You may have to explain a couple of awkward scenes to any children in your home. But the story works its own special brand of magic, with certain characters capturing your heart. Of special note is Thomas Brodie-Sangster as young Sam with his crush on his classmate, and Rowan Atkinson nearly steals the show as the world's most frustrating store clerk. As in real life, not all of the relationships will work out, but at the end it will leave you smiling.