41. Notting Hill; movie review

NOTTING HILL
Cert 15
121 mins
BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language and moderate sex references

Oh, the irony... Hugh Grant, one of the leaders of the Hacked Off campaign aaginats tabloid newspapers, playing a chracter who describes them as unimportant and tomorrow's chip paper.
I found the way in which Grant used the press, with girlfriend Liz Hurley on his arm in safety-pinned dress, rather blatant.
The manner in which he turned on the had which helped him be fed was simply hypocritical.
And yet here he is, as a London book shop owner, arguing to a Hollwyood superstar (Julia Roberts) that none of it matters.
Roger Michell's Notting Hill was released 20 years ago, when Roberts at her the height of her box office attraction and Grant's floppy hair and shy smile made women swoon.
It was a huge hit but always struck me as a much weaker sibling to Four Weddings And A Funeral.
For starters, it makes Notting Hill out to be akin to Burnley.
Grant's character talks about the simple life in a simple area and yet everyone knows it as one of the country's most affluent addresses.
This is part of the reason that his penniless book shop owner is implausible. If he makes a loss how can he even afford to live where he does?
Indeed, from where does he get the money to woo the Hollywood actress?
And why would she fall for him in any case unless she is so shallow that a haircut and a cute smile should lure her in?
Surely, in her position, thousands of men as handsome as Grant's William Thacker would have thrown themselves at her?
Regardless, I found the too-ing and fro-ing of their on off relationship rather tepid.
For me, the best bits were the gossping dinner parties which reminded of the super comic timing of the sadly departed Emma Chambers as well as Tim McInnery, Gina McKee and Hugh Bonneville.
Oh, and then there is Rhys Ifans' underpants...
But overall, I found Notting Hill just as soppy in 2019 as I did in 1999.

Reasons to watch: It's supposed to be a clasic of its time
Reasons to avoid: Sugary slush

Laughs: A couple of chuckles
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 5/10

Did you know? Four Weddings and a Funeral director Mike Newell was offered the director's chair on Notting Hill, but said no, as he felt he had "done a Notting Hill already."

The final word - Hugh Grant: "The goodwill from Four Weddings was dissipating fast then Richard (Crutis) write this other film and it was based on something that happened to a friend of his." GQ

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