Great essay! I actually had the reverse experience. Sort of. I hated the movie from the moment I saw it in the theaters for all the reasons you’ve expressed so eloquently. But saw it again recently and, knowing Anna Scott was the worst, I focused on the other characters. Who were brilliant. The friends, the roommate, the people in the shop were all quirky and funny and endearing in that wonderful British romcom way that made the film much more palatable. So, good movie, terrible romance.
You make some very valid points. I haven't watched the movie in a really long time so I can't remember specifics, but I remember reading the "I made fifteen million dollars" line as her responding to being mansplained to about her poor choice in career, which I have to respect. I may be wrong though, as I say, it's been years.
Really enjoyed this post and now feel an urge to revisit the movie that inspired it, thank you!
I ALWAYS thought she was awful and the only way it was a win for him was that he got to tame the famous girl. Oh. Actually. It's Taming of the Shrew. In a way. I didn't realize that until this second. Another fantastic essay--thank you, Jennifer!
I had the SAME experience! I watched "Notting Hill" again about six months ago and thought, "Wow, THAT didn't age well!" Anna Scott is the WORST. I was surprised to see that they are making a thing about the 25th anniversary. Some movies are better left to quietly fade away.
I confess. I still love this movie— because it never ceases to make me laugh. Anna Scott as Horse and Hound’s favorite actress? Hilarious. I completely cede to your arguments, Jennifer, about how awful Anna is, but I will show up for William any day of the week.
It was on last week and as a joke the Hubs turned it on for me. We saw the last third or so and I honestly could
not BELIEVE how terrible it was. The script was awful and I couldn’t figure out how I didn’t notice it at the time… was it simply the star power of Julia and Hugh that turned off my quality radar? We did have fun saying over and over, “I’m just a GIRL, standing in front of a BOY...” Also, girl and boy?!?
Hi, thank you for sharing your thoughts, love this! Totally agree with you, especially that if the genders were reversed -- it wouldn't be very funny at all. I do love watching that era's rom-coms, though. Julia Roberts' character in My Best Friend's Wedding did some dicey things too -- although I think it's a better movie overall. :)
Having read your essay I'm going to disagree with you on some of your points and feel you were clutching and ignoring other points to make your story.
I do think however her character is quite cold and doesn't know how to express herself.
That kiss you're objecting to was a risk. But love is about taking risks but it was a decision she wasn't wrong on and where would the love story be if she asked him before she kissed him?
But you've also forgotten the effort she went to finding his number and asking him to meet her at the hotel. But she also APOLOGISED to him for that kiss.
As for the friends birthday party she did a great act of kindness that you missed. She's a vegetarian but ate her friends guinea fowl without refusing it. Who does that as a vegetarian and not to upset the host?
You're on point about her behaviour after that but she then comes back looking to make amends and she goes to great lengths about it. She remembers his painting and says she has the same one.
She packed that painting and clearly had intentions to see him and apologise. That painting is worth $1million dollars. She gave that as a gift!
To me that doesn't seem like she is the worst but someone a little bit lost a little bit lonely and a little bit like a girl looking for a boy to love her.
Any thoughts on what is an exceptional Rom-Com? I think that they are all going to deal with the power dynamic in a relationship and the question is how artfully the movie explores the change in the relationship. Although there are many objectionable thing in Pretty Woman, I did like that the Julia Robers character evolved to take control of the relationship. (Ending was very corny though). Looks like all respondents so far are women!
The thing that always bothered me was her reaction when she's hiding out at Will's and there is an unexpected knock on the door. First she's all cute and then she flies into a rage that he answered the door, like she asked him to. Why didn't her paranoia kick in at the sound of the knock? Why didn't somebody spy out of that bathroom window and see the gathered paprazzi and just not open the door?
I think Richard Curtis has some issue with an American woman. Four Weddings and Funeral--an American woman behaves badly. Notting Hill--an American woman behaves badly. Love, Actually--the American woman are characters from a porno. About Time--she must have finally succumbed to his dubious charms because the American woman is finally seen behaving well.
My vote for the most offensive rom-com is "You've Got Mail" written by a woman no less (Nora Ephron) who puts the Tom Hanks character totally in charge of the relationship, stringing Meg Ryan along by pretending that he doesn't know who her mystery man is. If I met such an odious and manipulative man at the big reveal in Riverside park, I would have kicked him hard in the grapes.
I think this is an exceptional evaluation of a movie I have literally not watched since the '90's but now am quite excited to unleash my outrage on this Friday night. Well done! 👏
Great essay! I actually had the reverse experience. Sort of. I hated the movie from the moment I saw it in the theaters for all the reasons you’ve expressed so eloquently. But saw it again recently and, knowing Anna Scott was the worst, I focused on the other characters. Who were brilliant. The friends, the roommate, the people in the shop were all quirky and funny and endearing in that wonderful British romcom way that made the film much more palatable. So, good movie, terrible romance.
You make some very valid points. I haven't watched the movie in a really long time so I can't remember specifics, but I remember reading the "I made fifteen million dollars" line as her responding to being mansplained to about her poor choice in career, which I have to respect. I may be wrong though, as I say, it's been years.
Really enjoyed this post and now feel an urge to revisit the movie that inspired it, thank you!
I ALWAYS thought she was awful and the only way it was a win for him was that he got to tame the famous girl. Oh. Actually. It's Taming of the Shrew. In a way. I didn't realize that until this second. Another fantastic essay--thank you, Jennifer!
I had the SAME experience! I watched "Notting Hill" again about six months ago and thought, "Wow, THAT didn't age well!" Anna Scott is the WORST. I was surprised to see that they are making a thing about the 25th anniversary. Some movies are better left to quietly fade away.
I confess. I still love this movie— because it never ceases to make me laugh. Anna Scott as Horse and Hound’s favorite actress? Hilarious. I completely cede to your arguments, Jennifer, about how awful Anna is, but I will show up for William any day of the week.
I never liked that movie much. My favorite scene is the dinner scene because I loved his friends so much more than Anna.
Yes! I have never liked Notting Hill despite my affection for Hugh Grant and you have just clearly explained why.
It was on last week and as a joke the Hubs turned it on for me. We saw the last third or so and I honestly could
not BELIEVE how terrible it was. The script was awful and I couldn’t figure out how I didn’t notice it at the time… was it simply the star power of Julia and Hugh that turned off my quality radar? We did have fun saying over and over, “I’m just a GIRL, standing in front of a BOY...” Also, girl and boy?!?
Hi, thank you for sharing your thoughts, love this! Totally agree with you, especially that if the genders were reversed -- it wouldn't be very funny at all. I do love watching that era's rom-coms, though. Julia Roberts' character in My Best Friend's Wedding did some dicey things too -- although I think it's a better movie overall. :)
Having read your essay I'm going to disagree with you on some of your points and feel you were clutching and ignoring other points to make your story.
I do think however her character is quite cold and doesn't know how to express herself.
That kiss you're objecting to was a risk. But love is about taking risks but it was a decision she wasn't wrong on and where would the love story be if she asked him before she kissed him?
But you've also forgotten the effort she went to finding his number and asking him to meet her at the hotel. But she also APOLOGISED to him for that kiss.
As for the friends birthday party she did a great act of kindness that you missed. She's a vegetarian but ate her friends guinea fowl without refusing it. Who does that as a vegetarian and not to upset the host?
You're on point about her behaviour after that but she then comes back looking to make amends and she goes to great lengths about it. She remembers his painting and says she has the same one.
She packed that painting and clearly had intentions to see him and apologise. That painting is worth $1million dollars. She gave that as a gift!
To me that doesn't seem like she is the worst but someone a little bit lost a little bit lonely and a little bit like a girl looking for a boy to love her.
Any thoughts on what is an exceptional Rom-Com? I think that they are all going to deal with the power dynamic in a relationship and the question is how artfully the movie explores the change in the relationship. Although there are many objectionable thing in Pretty Woman, I did like that the Julia Robers character evolved to take control of the relationship. (Ending was very corny though). Looks like all respondents so far are women!
The thing that always bothered me was her reaction when she's hiding out at Will's and there is an unexpected knock on the door. First she's all cute and then she flies into a rage that he answered the door, like she asked him to. Why didn't her paranoia kick in at the sound of the knock? Why didn't somebody spy out of that bathroom window and see the gathered paprazzi and just not open the door?
I think Richard Curtis has some issue with an American woman. Four Weddings and Funeral--an American woman behaves badly. Notting Hill--an American woman behaves badly. Love, Actually--the American woman are characters from a porno. About Time--she must have finally succumbed to his dubious charms because the American woman is finally seen behaving well.
I had the same impression watching it again. I remember thinking she was the perfect woman. Now I think she’s pretty hideous. William deserves better.
My vote for the most offensive rom-com is "You've Got Mail" written by a woman no less (Nora Ephron) who puts the Tom Hanks character totally in charge of the relationship, stringing Meg Ryan along by pretending that he doesn't know who her mystery man is. If I met such an odious and manipulative man at the big reveal in Riverside park, I would have kicked him hard in the grapes.
Also, it is unforgivably THREE HOURS LONG. Dabney Coleman is hilarious in it tho.
As usual, your thoughts were well thought out well presented, and spot on. You are the best.
I think this is an exceptional evaluation of a movie I have literally not watched since the '90's but now am quite excited to unleash my outrage on this Friday night. Well done! 👏