Staring: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant, Rhys Ifans, Hugh Bonneville, Mischa Barton, Gina McKee, Emma Chambers, James Dreyfus, Richard McCabe, Tim McInnerny, Clark Peters, Emily Mortimer, Dylan Moran, Samuel West
Production company: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Music by: Trevor Jones
Release: 1999

Plot: William Thacker owns a travel book store in Notting Hill, London. Divorced, Will shares a flat with Spike, a flaky and sloppy Welshman. One day, famous Hollywood actress Anna Scott enters the shop and buys a book. Shortly after she leaves Will bumps into her while rounding a street corner, spilling his juice on her. He takes Anna to his flat that is directly across the street so she can change into a clean shirt. When leaving, she impulsively kisses him.

Anna later invites him to visit her at the Ritz Hotel. Upon his arrival he is mistaken for a reporter and ushered into a press junket for her new film. When asked, he says he writes for Horse & Hound magazine. Anna asks to be William's date at his sister's birthday party later that evening. Though his friends and family are surprised, Anna gets on well with everyone and enjoys herself. Later, the two enter a private neighbourhood park, where Anna again kisses Will.

One day, a distraught Anna appears at Will's doorstep, needing to hide from a tabloid scandal. She apologises about King and says their relationship is over. They discover shared interests, and discuss Will's print of Marc Chagall's 1950 painting La Mariée. They make love that night. The next morning, paparazzi, inadvertently tipped off by Spike, besiege the house and take photos of Will, Anna, and a half-dressed Spike at the front door. Furious, she blames Will and leaves.

Review: Notting Hill is a warm feel good romantic comedy about acceptance and connections. The meeting of two vastly different worlds is well developed. With Julie Roberts who plays Anna a famously rich actress and Hugh Grant who plays William a Travel Bookshop. The chemistry is there and is well paced as they seek ways to get to know each other. With all the usual paparazzi of the actress. A poignant moment is when Roberts character joins in a game around a table at Grants home. Her characters experiences are placed on the table bare for all to see and feel. Yet they are not considered powerful enough and so she doesn't win the game. In not winning the character can be seen as really winning. As she is made to focus on someone else.

It's in the meandering way in which Anna and William meet and miss each other in the first part of the film we can find ourselves wanting to believe they can make it work. Something which is promised from the onset of the story and even in the advertising. Thankfully we do see a happy ending. As well as many special moments along the way for many of the secondary characters. Some of whom whose stories shine just as much as the main story.

Grab some popcorn, malteasers, soda and get rerady to watch a fun film about life.

M J Flack