Love Actually

I wrote a long review of this movie for my university newspaper, recommending it strongly for anyone old enough to handle the questionable and indeed objectionable content. Look past the nudity on the screen and realize what the scenes are saying about sexuality—without love, it is nothing. It is as absurd as the two porn stand-ins going through the motions while talking about the weather. And I can’t resist commenting on one more thing—Colin Firth’s character Jamie is simply wonderful, and I would say that it is the most touching story in the film. His love for his housekeeper is a beautiful example of love denying reason. And I think the idea of love denying reason is a very Christian thing.

If you are an objective person, I say go see it and take from it the good. Think of how many non-believers out there who will have seen this most likely and think of how you can bring up the fact that Jesus is the only True Love that we can ever have, with a Love that covers sin. If you are a person easily offended than I do not recommend watching it.

This is an “R” rated film particularly for an extended storyline with a couple that meet while acting as lighting stand-ins for a soft porn film. There is nudity and simulated rehearsal of sex which sadly took away any possibility of this film being watchable by the kids or watching it with Mom Dad and the grandparents since it would make for awkward moments. The content here is decidedly objectionable for a lot of Christians.

However, the story is cute and the couple gets turned on to one another not by the sex acts. The job is entirely boring to them. Because they are merely going through the motions and are bored they have time to talk back and forth about their lives. They get to know one another the way people do and should. The contrast and humor is that it is set in this bizarre backdrop.

The overall message about relationships being sent is probably a fairly positive one. The act of sex is relatively boring compared to getting to know one another as people. The more objectionable message might be in the Liam Neeson story thread. Neeson plays a widower raising his son on his own. He has become one of these “pal” dads. He is a little casual relating about his own sexual life and desires to bond with his son who is just beginning to have an interest in a particular girl at school. You can tell he is going to become the sort of chicken Dad who hands out the condom and says “be careful” rather than equip his son with the tools he needs to have a healthy relationship. Also there is a trivial storyline about a college guy who is having no luck getting into a shallow relationship with the local girls and makes a hail Mary play running America to America to try his luck there with some spectacular success.

Though none are decidedly Christian in nature.The rest of the stories shouldn’t pose any significant challenges morally. One of the excellent stories is a painful lesson about the cost infidelity because the personal hurt and loss is felt deeply on all sides. The values of love,family, sacrifice, giving, and risking for others are very human and a part of the daily life of a Christian. So there is naturally something tender and human there that makes for a warm heart by the film’s end. Not a perfect film but one that is very easy to forgive and have affection for. “Love Actually is all around” and it is tangible here.

I have been campaigning on Amazon to have the studio release a special DVD edition packaged separately or together with a PG-13 version sans the actor couple. Its just so regretable that such an otherwise charming delightful film can’t be shared with the family around the holidays because of this nice but entirely disposable storyline. I have a friend that saw “Love Actually” on a plane without this story thread and said it didn’t detract from the pleasure of the film at all.

The subject of love is clearly esteemed as ultimate right from the beginning of the film. It’s all around. The film displays true humanity in their dealings with love against the backdrop of The Beetles “All you need is love” and Christmas. Clearly there is no vision of God. As we know, true biblical love is lost in this world and it is very evident in the characters’ relationships and even further emphasized by a rather strange nativity scene in a school play. The love that the viewer is given to consider and further examine is at times heartbreaking, exciting, inexplicable, awkward, unwelcome, and of course about making tough choices. Loveactually also depicts its perversion, exploitation and betrayal but not in a dark manner taking away from the wit of this film. Further on that note, there are several crude sexual scenes and references particularly when two individuals meet as they work together as stand-ins for an adult film. Obscenities are also considered commonplace. This is not a family movie and probably should not be taken solely as a holiday romance.

Interestingly, there is a commentary of things American. Being that this is a British film it can be considered politely direct or simply a show in jest of their opinions about American love and life but working with the rhythm of the portrayals throughout the film should cause us to pause and ponder. In the end, love triumphs. Good or bad, there is an element of truth to each portion presented on the screen. Every character and detail has a story to tell. We are given an honest look of the world, of love and how people deal in some sense without a vision of God.

There is a powerful and redemptive moment in the movie when one of the characters discovers that their love is betrayed. Whether the director was intentional or not the scene carries a strong proverbial overtone about foolishness. To betray love is foolishness and makes a fool of those who are committed to love. This is just an example that although God is not clearly visible, mentioned, or feared his wisdom beckons. “Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares…” (Pr 1:20)

Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film for its wit and the glimpses we get into several weeks of the charcter’s lives. The viewer is left wanting to see how everything plays out but like life we will never really know. Loveactually would be great to watch this with some friends and later discuss the details at length of how they or their friends may experience some of the aspects of love portrayed.