Tag Archives: Christmas Movie

Christmas Movie, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, No Spoiler Reviews

ELF (2003): Will Ferrell Makes It Good…

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Elf (2003), Will Ferrell

Silly, with several funny and moving moments, plus all the right messages for the christmas season is just one way to describe Elf.

Starring Will Ferrell in the title role, and directed by Jon Favreau; I’ve heard many people refer to Elf as their favourite Christmas movie. Having now seen it, I can’t say it’s mine, however Ferrell does a positively memorable job with his character.

If you weren’t already a fan of Ferrell, it’s quite likely that after the movie, you’ll recognise and applaud his comic capabilities. Just make sure you’re in the mood for some silly beforehand.

Zooey Dechanel’s beautiful singing voice and the characters played by Faison Love and Peter Dinklage are two more of my favourite things about Elf.

Watch it for a reminder of why so many people can’t help but look forward to Will Ferrell in comedy roles. Daddy’s Home (2015) is his latest comedy, which will arrive  just in time for Christmas 2015 and I’m certainly looking forward to it.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Comedy, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

LOVE ACTUALLY (2003): Sweet, Funny & Perfectly British

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Love Actually (2003), Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keira Knightley
Love Actually (2003), Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keira Knightley

Set in London, England, Love Actually is a romantic comedy written and directed by Richard Curtis, the man responsible for hit films such as Notting Hill (1999), Bridget Jone’s Diary (2001) and most recently, About Time (2013).

Focused on the love lives of several couples in the month leading up to Christmas, Curtis’s cast represent an excellent selection of some of the UK & Ireland’s best acting talent. It is a cast that includes – to name just a few, Bill Nighy, Andrew Lincoln, Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Liam Neeson.

In Love Actually, what Curtis has delivered is a very sweet and funny movie. Along with the classically British humour and eccentricities, there’s a healthy sprinkling of romance, drama and family – just the perfect balance for the holiday season.

Love Actually (2003), Hugh Grant, Nina Sosanya, Martine McCutcheon
Love Actually (2003), Hugh Grant, Nina Sosanya, Martine McCutcheon

On the other hand, there are one or two situations/relationships that I didn’t find particularly believable. Not to say that they would never happen, but they certainly felt like a stretch. Still, it is after all the festive season, so, perhaps magic is supposed to happen, yes?

My inability to ‘believe in love’ aside,  Love Actually is a well paced holiday movie with all the right sentiments. I know Christmas is not quite here yet but I watched it anyway, for the love and humour.

My favourite of all the couples would have to be Billy and Joe in the recording studio, Sarah and Karl at the office and Judy and Jack. Who doesn’t like Judy and Jack?

Happy Film Loving, 

G

Comedy

LOVE THE COOPERS (2015): New Christmas Trailer Starring Ed Helms & Olivia Wilde

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Love The Coopers (2015), Ed Helms, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried,
Love The Coopers (2015), Ed Helms, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried,

Read my spoiler-free movie review of Love the Coopers (2015).

Summer isn’t over yet but if you didn’t already know, it’s time for the Christmas movie trailer. And Love The Coopers is the first one I’ve seen for 2015.

Does it look refreshingly different? No, but it does look like this Jessie Nelson-directed seasonal film will provide precisely the mildly amusing, yet heartwarming entertainment one can enjoy after stuffing one’s face on the Lord’s special day.

The cast list includes familiar names like Olivia Wilde, Diane Keaton, John Goodman, Amanda Seyfried, Marisa Tomei and Anthony Mackie.

Out November 2015 (U.S.) and December 2015 (U.K.)

Happy Film Loving,

G