I love Christmas movies! Elf, A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, Home Alone…I’ve seen them all so many times. And contrary to what the title of this post might lead you to believe, Love Actually is actually one of my very favorites. But this scene (you know the one) is at the top of countless “most romantic” lists and I just have to come out and say it…I actually hate it.
If you’re one of the three people in the world not familiar, you can see the full scene here. But basically, this guy is professing his undying love (albeit “without hope or agenda”) to his best friend’s new wife. To him she is perfect, and his wasted heart will love her forever…or until she’s a shriveled corpse, which seems fitting for Rick Grimes. #foreshadowing
And as if that’s not bad enough, she then she runs out and kisses him. Yep…she kisses him! What the hell?! Didn’t you just marry his best friend like 4 days ago?!
And then he walks away saying, “Enough. Enough now.” Enough now? As in, “I’ll just wait for them to get a little further in their marriage before I decide to ruin it?” It just gets worse and worse.
If she was single, I would totally get it. I’d be saying, “Ladies, drop everything and go find this guy because he’s the most romantic ever!” And I’m guessing hoping that the millions who love this scene (and post it constantly) are taking it out of context. But when you really think about it, it’s pretty screwed up. (Can you imagine what would have happened if her husband answered the door? #awkward)
Ok, rant over. I feel better having that off my chest…and I didn’t even have to use giant note cards. I realize that not everyone is going to feel as strongly as I do on this. So go ahead, air your grievances! I’d love to know what you think!
Do you think this scene is romantic or creepy and inappropriate? What’s your favorite holiday movie?
I was in college when “Love Actually” debuted in theaters and my college boyfriend took me to see it. When this scene happened, he looked at me and said, “this movie is all kinds of screwed up. We’re leaving!” I had never walked out of a movie before and was pretty embarrassed. I definitely grew to love the movie over the years (and after the breakup) but this scene always brings up an interesting memory!
Once that “best friend” finds out, he might just be whoopin’ some a$$! jus sayin’…. The other dumb part is the dad who buys the necklace for the skank secretary… What was he thinking?? Emma Thomson is way finer than that skankapotomous! “I feel it in my fingers…”
i saw this movie in the theater with friends and everyone loved it – except me. i hate the scene you describe and i think the rest of the movie is just as dumb. then again, my favorite christmas movie is The Ref, so my tastes are probably a little different.