The beloved romantic comedy, Notting Hill, featuring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in the lead roles, is set to grace our screens once again on Film 4 this evening (Friday).
Penned by Richard Curtis, this nineties gem tells the tale of an unlikely romance between a British bookshop owner and a globally renowned American actress. The film boasts a stellar supporting cast including Rhys Ifans, Hugh Bonneville, Emma Chambers, Tim McInnerny and Gina McKee, and continues to be cherished for its feel-good vibes, nostalgia and memorable one-liners.
Its award-winning soundtrack, filled with classic tunes from legendary artists, provides the perfect accompaniment to this heartwarming story.
The life of travel bookshop owner William Thacker (played by Grant) takes an unexpected turn when the stunning and famous US actress Anna Scott (portrayed by Roberts) steps into his Notting Hill, London shop to purchase a book. Their worlds couldn’t be more different – Will, a divorcee, shares his home with his untidy Welsh flatmate Spike (Ifans), while Anna resides at the Ritz hotel during her promotional tour for her latest film.
After Anna surprises Will with a kiss, a flirtation blossoms into romance, leading her to meet his quirky group of friends. However, as with any love story, there are heart-wrenching obstacles to overcome, and the couple find themselves torn apart due to misunderstandings and miscommunication, reports the Mirror.
Boasting one-liners that have become cinematic legend, including “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy”, the film proved a massive success with both critics and audiences when it hit screens in 1999.
The romantic comedy raked in £31 million at UK box offices alone, establishing itself as Britain’s highest-earning film of its era.
The production secured countless accolades, including a BRIT Award for its stellar soundtrack featuring tracks such as Ronan Keating’s When You Say Nothing At All, Elvis Costello’s She, and Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine.
Devotees continue to cherish every aspect of this beloved classic.
On Rotten Tomatoes, where it maintains an impressive 84% rating, one reviewer said: “Charming, feel-good romantic comedy that still holds up. Notting Hill has just the right mix of humor, heart, and sincerity.
“The chemistry between Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts is natural and warm, and the story – while simple – hits all the right notes. It’s light but not shallow, and there are moments that genuinely stay with you.”
Another fan said it should serve as the ultimate romantic comedy blueprint: “Expertly written and brilliantly directed!” they enthused. “Classic that should be a sort of ‘model’ for love stories. With Roberts and Grant in the lead, what could go wrong hey? Razor sharp wit and spectacular characters, this is a winner.”
A third viewer, admittedly not typically drawn to romantic films, awarded it five stars and said: “Not a rom-com type but this really worked for me. The two leads were superb / It’s perfect… one of the best rom coms of all time.”
