Episode 2 - Love Actually

This week we’re tearing apart the beloved romantic comedy from 2003 “Love Actually.” This star-studded cast of British regulars (and Laura Linney) intersect in a tangled web of love (I guess) in London that would make Robert Altman spin in his grave. Hugh Grant plays the lovesick Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Billy Bob Thornton plays the president of the United States. Others include Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Martin Freeman, Andrew Lincoln, Keira Knightley, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and the late, great Alan Rickman. 

We wonder why people would ever consider this movie romantic, because all the characters merely confuse instant attraction and distant infatuation for love. We unpack the uneasiness of Liam Neeson’s creepy step-son, Laura Linney’s bizarre relationship with her mentally ill brother, and the famous holding-cue-cards-at-the-door scene. Keating deals with his inexplicable untoward thoughts about certain cartoon characters while we also try to figure out why this movie feels the need to countdown the weeks until Christmas, and what exactly Billy Bob Thornton means by saying, “nice pipes.”

Tell us what you think by chatting with us (@filmsnuff) on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or by shooting us an email over at mailbag@filmsnuff.com. 

This episode is sponsored by No Bark Box.