Notting Hill

Well I liked it. I think it's one of those films that, for many people, you need to know what you're getting yourself into for 2 hours before sitting down to watch it. I knew what to expect, the Hugh Grant character, the storyline (pretty much) etc. It had a plan, it had an audience, it went for it and it worked. I found Hugh Grant funny myself because his character was laughable on many levels, that's not a knock down, more an observation.

Being an englishmen it makes me laugh to think that his personality/demeanor is conceivably seen as the only one that exists in this country or at least, the predominant one. What's brilliant though, is that he seems to very popular with the ladies, somehow, through the falling over, the bumbling, the making a prat of himself, the shy, scared to make a move Hugh Grant appeals big time to a surprisingly wide audience. Fair play to him though I can understand where people are coming from with the criticisms, the marketing strategy was blatant. Nice film though IMO (fun, cheery, amusing as has been noted), I don't watch too many of them but every now and then...

Oh and if you want a grittier view of England, the obvious choices notwithstanding, try 'The 51st State' and if you want to see some real englishmen, try 'Dog Soldiers'

I liked the movie very much, as well.

I would no more think that all British men were monolithically portrayed by Hugh Grant than I would expect the British to think the same of Julia Roberts as the archetype of all American women. Notting Hill is a well-done romantic comedy, with a smooth meshing of the styles of 2 stars. As I remember it, the plot moved nicely (with maybe a few hiccups), the dialogue was witty enough, and the secondary characters saved it from being too saccharine. I thought Rhys Ifans was wonderful, and I've been happy to see him in several other movies since.

Recently, I've been forced to read Jane Austen, for the first time in my life. I don't know if I'm unduly influenced by this or not, but thinking about Notting Hill led me to consider parallels with Pride & Prejudice. Maybe all romantic comedies carry the same themes.

Whether that is true or not, Notting Hill is a happy, very watchable comedy. It does not pretend to be anything else. It is not a documentary, or a drama. For that I'll watch Snatch and get a true image of England

Excellent point. Or for that matter watch "You've Got Mail" expecting to get an accurate picture of New York City, and on and on.

It's the movies.

I think it's funny how people react in this thread. I mean, come on, this is supposed to be a Romantic Comedy. That means a storyline usually depicting an evolving, if unlikely, romance between two 'extremes', certain types of main and secondary characters, and a usually upbeat tone. If you criticize the movie because Hugh Grant plays a loveable, symphatetic bumbler, and because it doesn't accurately convey the image of england, or because no one in his right mind could fall for Andy Mc dowall (who, as pointed out, doesn't appear in this movie ), you are simply missing the genre.
I loved it. It's a very relaxed movie with very pleasant characters and at times absolutely delightful humor. (I adored the part where Hugh is forced to interview the cast of Julia's most recent blockbuster. Absolutely delightfull. ) I'd certainly add it to the DVD collection, eoe!

I'd say that Ashers has hit the nail on the head. It's a formula movie and it's a fun "romantic comedy".

Now, as a realistic portrait of life in London, the film is undisputably poor. Many objected to the lack of black actors in the scenes set in Notting Hill, as the location is one in which there is a very significant Afro-Carribbean community, the heart of the Notting Hill Carnival, the biggest annual carnival outside Rio, I believe. I don't understand why the casting director didn't notice!

In fact, I know the exact locations very well. I could lead you to his shop and show you the cinemas and markets. I've even got a pretty good idea of where that square is, where they sit on the bench. Where she's filming on set is Kenwood House, a place I used to walk an ex-girlfriend's dog and where open air concerts are held each summer.

Despite being a "rose-tinted" view of things, I enjoyed the feeling of these places being filmed so beautifully - this is my home on show and it looks good.

The character portrayed by Hugh Grant in Notting Hill, just as in Four Weddings, is a stereotype of an ex-public school boy still working out how to be a man and not very knowing of his own feelings, let alone able to express them in a decent manner. I know a few people like that but it's hardly typical of a Londoner any more than Jerry Seinfeld or Carrie Bradshaw are typical of New Yorkers.

I heard from my hairdresser, who attended some kind of party to do with the Bridget Jones' Diary film that she found Colin Firth was far more sexy and charismatic than Hugh Grant, so at least I have one opinion from a "real person" on how his in person.

Tico

Pride & Prejudice was very clearly the inspiration of Bridget Jones' Diary (she even borrowed the name of "Darcy" from Austen). "Clueless", starring Alicia Silverstone is also a re-hash of this classic romance.

KP

Gosh, I have not seen this film in forever! I think that I need to rewatch it

Well, I'm with those who don't care that it wasn't an accurate portral of London. I wasn't watching a documentary I was watching a fictional movie. I liked it and frankly, had it been about an American guy and and American girl, (which that story has been done a hundred times already) they would have made him just as bumbling.

You are getting way to caught up in something that most people don't even think about. Yes, I thought some of the things he said were...weird, but I am smart enough to know that Londoners aren't simpltons that use phrases like "oops-a-daisy" on a regular basis.

Overall, I liked the film.

Well, as for me I like the movie... Full of romance and love... Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts are cute anyway... So I think that's ok...

Me too.

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um.. actually Clueless was based off Emma, not P&P

I liked Notting Hill and Hugh Grant's character, but as his feel-good movies go, I much prefer Four Weddings and a Funeral (despite MacDowell) and, especially, Love actually which was heart warming.