Over the Hill

"Notting Hill"
Overall Rating: **½


It's an old plot: ordinary people mingle with the rich and the royal--leading to romance. From "Cinderella" to "Pretty Woman," the plot is often tried if not always true. "Notting Hill" is only the latest installment. Its slight twist: the royalty is a Hollywood actress, and the ordinary guy runs a small business. Still, "Notting Hill" pretty much just sticks to the formula.

William Thacker (Hugh Grant) is a fairly typical small-business owner. His Notting Hill specialty bookshop makes a go of it--but barely. His wife left him some time ago, and he hasn't resumed dating. Then, world renowned actress Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) first stops by his store and later runs into him on the street. He finds love--but an unattainable love.

Julia Roberts is fine as Anna Scott. This is not another "Pretty Woman," but her performance as an actress trying to hide from fame is not bad. Hugh Grant is better as the charming Thacker. He manages to convey his character's awkwardness with his famous girlfriend. Don't let the stellar names fool you: Rhys Ifans steals the scene every time he's on screen. Playing Thacker's wacky roommate Spike, his character seems better suited for a slapstick than a romantic comedy, but Ifans makes Spike fit--much to the benefit of the film.

The movie has its share of laughs--especially in the first half. It's also charming. You get pulled in very smoothly. When William and Anna's relationship becomes awkward, the film also echoes that--though perhaps it becomes a little too awkward. It's also one-hundred percent predictable. (It's a romantic comedy--is there a microsecond of doubt how the romance will eventually go?) The real problem is that the film also winds up being too sweet, especially towards the end. The plot already defied belief, but it really stretches things with its end. As the second half began, I was enjoying "Notting Hill," but when the film was over, I felt like I had just consumed an entire jar of honey.

On a technical level, the film also has problems. The background music blares its way into the foreground several times. The cinematography also gets annoying more than once; the opening shots of Anna Scott, and a scene in a park where the camera rises up to shoot Scott and Thacker from above are the two examples that come to mind immediately. Neither of these problems would greatly hurt a better film, but here, it contributes to the impression that the filmmakers were doing sloppy work.

Despite its PG-13 rating, the film is fairly safe for children. There's significant strong language, but no violence. There are some sexual situations as well, and some extremely brief nudity (a side-view of a woman quickly walking past the camera is the only real "nude shot"). Despite this, I don't think "Notting Hill" is a good choice for children: I promise any typical boy under about thirteen or so will find the film "mushy;" I suspect a number of adults will hold the same opinion.

"Notting Hill" is a stock romantic comedy. If you like romantic comedies, like any of the stars, or just liked the previews, it's probably worth checking out. If not, then don't go to see it unless your date drags you to it. As the old post-romance line goes, "there are other fish in the sea."

Title: "Notting Hill"
Release date: May 28, 1999

MPAA rating: PG-13
Overall rating: **½

Aprox. run time: 125 min.
Director: Roger Michell
Writer: Richard Curtis
Stars: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant

Original URL: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Mansion/7045/Notting.htm

Added to blog site: 8/3/09 (minor editing)