Give your Valentine’s Day a vintage twist with this classic 90’s rom-com, Notting Hill. Released May 21, 1999, Notting Hill portrays the love story of a simple Englishman who unexpectedly falls in love with a famous American actress. The film’s lovable cast, quaint UK locations, and charming dialogue make it the must-watch for this year’s Valentine’s Day.
Directed by Roger Michell and written by acclaimed writer Richard Curtis, the film is filled with longing and artfully directed camera work. Accompanied by the movie soundtrack’s late 70s and early 60s vibes, including hits such as “Gimme Some Lovin’” by The Spencer Davis Group, “Ain’t no Sunshine” by Bill Withers, and “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” by Al Green, the many old love songs set the movie on its love story path. Notting Hill has a running time of 2 hours and 4 minutes, the perfect length of time for a Valentine’s viewing.
The film was released over Memorial weekend in Canada and the US and according to Imdb and The Numbers, over the four days, the movie grossed 27.7 million dollars, and in the following week, it made another 15 million dollars. This gives the movie the biggest opening for a romantic comedy film to date and proves that its popularity will continue to last decades after its big release.
Notting Hill stars Hugh Grant as William “Will” Thacker, a divorced travel bookstore owner, and Julia Roberts as Anna Scott, an equally beautiful and famous American actress. The story begins with Will leaving his distinct home with a dark blue door and walking through Notting Hill, a London neighborhood, to another regular day working in his travel bookstore. However, the day takes an unusual turn when renowned American actress Anna Scott enters his bookstore to make a purchase.
The bookstore interaction would not be the last Will and Anna have, as only later that day, during a coffee run, Will bumps into Anna on the corner of a street and spills orange juice all over her. After inviting her into his home to clean up after the orange juice spill, and a spontaneous kiss initiated by Anna, they part ways, and Will wonders if he will ever see her again.
A couple of days following their first interaction, Will’s roommate and the comedic relief character of the movie, Spike (Rhys Ifans), finally mentions a phone message left for Will by a girl, which Will realizes to be Anna. Spike, having a unique personality and way of unapologetically living his life, seemingly without a care in the world, doesn’t seem to grasp the urgency of the message, which is clear with Wills’ frustration with him.
When Will later finally manages a moment alone with Anna and shoots his shot, he is surprised when Anna agrees to go to dinner with him. However, he sadly realizes and admits he forgot he has plans for his sister’s birthday that night, but not long after his spirits are again lifted when Anna offers to be his date to the party.
The movie’s following plot follows the couple through the ups and downs of their unlikely relationship. It effortlessly encapsulates the romance of late-night walks in a park and dinner dates, as well as the heartbreak around messier arguments and fights about misunderstandings of situations that are out of the two characters’ control.
A crowd favorite, Will, with his English charm and awkward flirting skills, brings the film to life and sets the perfect tone for the plot. With creatively niche characters and uniquely funny script, Notting Hill quickly rose to icon status during the 90s, especially due to one scene in particular in which Anna tearfully confesses her love to Will in his bookstore. The iconic, “I’m just a girl,” scene dialogue that went viral puts a heartfelt spin on the plot of the movie, drawing the characters closer together.
This feel-good, lighthearted, and heart-touching movie is a classic, especially with the undeniable chemistry between the characters, and the actors behind them. The whimsical feel from the beautiful streets of London throughout the movie makes for the perfect classic movie rewatch. This sweet movie’s charming characters are sure to make your Valentine’s Day like no other, earning it five out of five feathers.
