I'm a sucker for most romantic comedies, and I must admit that Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts are like a dream-team to star in a rom-com. I also adore the premise of this movie, because it naturally creates situations that will be humorous. Any time the mega-famous interact with ordinary people it is potentially funny, and I particularly love how Hugh Grant is constantly trying to downplay the whole situation. They also fill the cast with a number of hilarious characters that add to the laughs. The first dinner date that they have is easily one of the funniest scenes in a rom-com, and I love every minute of it, particularly when it gets dark for a moment and they know just when to surprise you with a joke. They do stretch the limits of believability a few times in order to manufacture more comedy, but I still think it works, particularly watching Hugh Grant stumble through media interviews in a movie's press junket. There's so much to like in Notting Hill that I almost feel like it should be one of my all-time favorites, but it isn't. So let's talk about why.
First and foremost, I struggle a lot with the mean-spirited outbursts that Julia Roberts is given in the script. I feel like the massive difference in social status between the two characters is enough to create the kind of tension that is necessary to add that touch of drama required by any rom-com. But instead of relying on that, they crank her up to ten, and have her be downright vile to our protagonist. In the end, I struggle along with Hugh Grant's character to decide if forgiveness is the best course, because that kind of personality trait isn't going to just disappear. The other thing about Notting Hill that has always bugged me are the needle drops. I know this is going to sound like nitpicking because this isn't the kind of thing I ever notice, but it stands out like a sore thumb here. Every single song they plop into this movie is easily the most cliched or on-the-nose choice, and that rendition of "She" by Elvis Costello is nauseating. Aside from these bad choices, Notting Hill is a solid film, I just wish they tweaked it a little more to make it great.
First and foremost, I struggle a lot with the mean-spirited outbursts that Julia Roberts is given in the script. I feel like the massive difference in social status between the two characters is enough to create the kind of tension that is necessary to add that touch of drama required by any rom-com. But instead of relying on that, they crank her up to ten, and have her be downright vile to our protagonist. In the end, I struggle along with Hugh Grant's character to decide if forgiveness is the best course, because that kind of personality trait isn't going to just disappear. The other thing about Notting Hill that has always bugged me are the needle drops. I know this is going to sound like nitpicking because this isn't the kind of thing I ever notice, but it stands out like a sore thumb here. Every single song they plop into this movie is easily the most cliched or on-the-nose choice, and that rendition of "She" by Elvis Costello is nauseating. Aside from these bad choices, Notting Hill is a solid film, I just wish they tweaked it a little more to make it great.