LOVE ACTUALLY (2003)

For the four weeks leading up to Christmas, Love Actually tells the loosely-related stories of eight different couples, whether it be finding or losing or regaining love.  Beautifully written, funny and poignant in all the right places, and often bordering on over-sentimentality (what else would you expect, from a Christmas-themed film?) but never falling over that edge, the film benefits as well from a stupendous cast; Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Andrew Lincoln, Keira Knightley, Laura Linney, Rodrigo Santoro, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Liam Neeson, Martin Freeman, and Kris Marshall are only the tip of this iceberg of talent.  What sets this film apart, though, is the way it tracks so many characters, yet manages to make you feel for all of them; as if you know them, or would love to, by the end of the film.  Funny, sweet, enchanting, and everything a Christmas (or any good film) should be.  Just can't believe it took me this long to see it. (rated R)  A