Christmas is just around the corner, and so is the annual onslaught of opinions about iconic 2003 rom-com 'Love Actually'.
It’s a festive tradition that warms hearts and tears friendships apart – but is the movie a glorious affirmation of the power of love or an unrealistic, manipulative pile of crap?
Brisbane performers and longtime friends Natalie Bochenski and Amy Currie (Act/React) are settling the score once and for all at this year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival with 'Love/Hate Actually', a comedy showdown that aims to decide whether or not the Christmas classic is terrible, actually. Amy loves it, and Natalie hates it, but ultimately it’s the audience’s verdict that matters.
After sell-out shows at Brisbane’s Wonderland Festival and a Best Comedy award nomination at Perth Fringe World, the Brisbane-based performers can’t wait to duke it out in their Melbourne debut! We sat down with the duo to take a spoiler-filled look at the film’s top five romantic leads... Or stalkers, depending who you ask.
Laura Linney
Amy: After years of pining, she gets a chance at love with a super hot Brazilian – but turns it down to care for her unwell brother. It’s charming and tragic and she also wears a lovely series of cardigans. I like cardigans.Natalie: She literally stares at this guy for years in an office and only acts on it when her boss orders her to. Had the relationship gone on, she would have become a bunny-boiler for sure.
Thomas Sangster
Amy: A boy bonds with his stepfather, discovers the joy of music and experiences the ups and downs of first love (including an adorable, age-appropriate airport smooch). Oh, and he’s obsessed with 'Titanic', which is charmingly quirky and not weird at all.Natalie: This is a 10-year-old kid whose mother has just died, but he's upset instead because the popular girl in school doesn't like him, so resolves to take up drumming to impress her. Liam Neeson is no help here; instead of a firm talking-to about boundaries, he encourages his stepson's stalking and breaking of airport security.
Colin Firth
Amy: Hubba hubba. A-wooo-ga! Boing! Hummina hummina hummina! Yeah, you wear that turtleneck, boy. Oh, you’re so emotionally scarred. So sad and sexy. Who will soothe you? Is it me? I’ll do it.Natalie: You might think he's endearing, but that's just a physical response to his daggy turtleneck. It's all very well to say "love transcends spoken language" but he still should be using his Portuguese lessons to interpret a cease-and-desist warrant.
Hugh Grant
Amy: Finally, a hot Prime Minster! He does funny dances. He sings little songs. He knocks on every door in a suburb to find his lady love on Christmas Eve. He falls for a sweary tea lady and stands up to Billy Bob Thornton. What’s not to like?Natalie: The guy only takes on the US President to impress his admin assistant. As opposed to, you know, doing it on sound moral principles. Although I will say that if Britain had elected a Prime Minister as good-looking as Hugh Grant, they wouldn't have felt so insecure as to vote for Brexit.
Andrew Lincoln
Amy: The poor fellow is stuck in the throes of unrequited love with his best friend’s wife, no less. Despite this nasty bit of luck, he manages to put things right with a sweet gesture. He wants them to be happy. He’s so noble!Natalie: He shows up at her house, that she shares with her husband, which is his best friend, declares his love for her in card-form... And she kisses him?! That is literally creepier than the zombies he now decapitates in 'The Walking Dead'.
