No match for writer Richard Curtis's earlier Four Weddings And A
Funeral, this partial retread did equally boffo box-office - perhaps
because we're so hungry for even half-decent romantic comedies. Julia
Roberts plays the world's most famous actress, bringing real
star-power to her scenes with bookseller Hugh Grant, whose ironic
charm is left shipwrecked by Michell's cautious direction. There's no
spark between the lovers, and Grant's posse of pals aren't much, but
thanks to some good laughs (Rhys Ifans's scuzzy Welshman; Grant's
press-junket nightmare; taking Roberts to dinner) and Roberts'
winning performance, Notting Hill just about pulls it off.
