Love Actually: A Jolt of Pure Optimism

When it comes to matters of the heart, Love Actually is the remedy. The film is a mosaic of love stories that are seamlessly sewn together to offer a jolt of pure optimism.

In just mere 10 seconds of the film’s opening scene, I can’t help but swoon over Hugh Grant’s voiceover:

 “Whenever I’m gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport.  General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere.” 

And get this: According to a Bustle.com article, the Heathrow airport footage is absolutely real. “A team of cameramen hung out at the airport for a week, and filmed real families, friends and lovers reuniting.” 

The main cast, of which there are over a dozen, each lead complex, interconnected love stories.

 The film is heartfelt and cheerful, but it’s not without the realistic qualms of passionless marriage, unrequited love and loneliness. These are all too familiar symptoms of heartache to which most everyone can relate, especially around the holidays.

Luckily each little love affair ends with at least a glimmer of hope.

While each story has a place in my heart (even Colin and his wacky quest to American to score hot girls), my favorite is the love triangle between characters Mark, Juliet and Peter.

Mark’s wasted heart will always love his best friend Peter’s wife, Juliet. One of the most romantic scenes in romcom history is when Mark, without agenda, finally declares his undying love for Juliet using cue cards and a boombox posing as carolers. “To me, you are perfect,” once climactic card reads.  

There are more feel good moments in the film than I can count on my fingers. From the moment little Sam realizes little Joanne knew his name all along to the moment the Prime Minister realizes he’s just one door away from his love, Natalie. Pieced together, this 1.5-hour of romance and comedy reminds us that, although there will be heartache, it's better to focus on the good, hopeful love all around us.