By EWAN MCDONALD
Herald rating: * * *
And now the one that mum and mum-in-law can watch while the lads are in the den with Russell. In short -- and as those who hire the DVD will find out, this might be more than two hours long but it is the
edited highlights -- this is a collection of loosely connected stories about a dozen couples who are in, out, between or looking for love.
Many will need to know no more than that it was written and directed by Richard Curtis, who wrote Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Bridget Jones's Diary, and that it stars, among many others, Hugh Grant. As well as narrating the story he plays the British Prime Minister, who will lose his pinstripes over the tea girl at Downing St (Martine McCutcheon).
Emma Thompson is the PM's sister, her heart broken by a cheating husband, Alan Rickman; Laura Linney and her colleague, Rodrigo Santoro, each in love with the other and too shy to admit it.
About the same time a onetime rock star (Bill Nighy) has re-recorded a Yuletide version of one of his old hits and is doing the talk show circuit to promote it.
In a piquant twist on the Bush-Blair relationship, the British PM visits the White House to hear another rant, this time from Billy Bob Thornton as the US President pointing out to the Brits that America is better than they are and they better get used to it.
And as you'll find on the DVD, Curtis was upset at having to stop after two and a bit hours: the 10 deleted scenes would have taken the movie past three and a half hours. He explains his reasons in a livewire commentary with actors Bill Nighy and young Thomas Sangster. Fans will be thrilled to hear that Hugh Grant drops in, a little late. There's a behind-the-scenes feature, music video and trailers.
(DVD, video rental April 21)
