Welcome to Second Union’s “Films To Make You Festive“. For the majority of December, Second Union will be talking about our favorite “festive films” in an attempt to get our readers ready for the holiday season. Expect action, adventure and all the nostalgia a Christmas period can possibly produce!
So, here it is, Merry Christmas! Everybody having fun? Well hopefully we at Second Union can sprinkle a little extra festive cheer on your holiday season with some of our favourite movies to celebrate this most magical time of year. To start us off, Richard Curtis’ divisive, but delightful Christmas comedy: Love Actually.
Featuring one of the best casts of British actors since the Harry Potter franchise, Love Actually is a series of mini stories delicately intertwined around the build up to that year’s Christmas Day. With names such as Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Alan (we still miss you) Rickman, Keria Knightly, Andrew Lincoln, Colin Firth, Bill Nighy and Chiwotel Ejiofor to name just a few, you can understand why we hold this in such high regard.
Now before I get too deep into the festivities, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that this is one of the movies my Wife and I share a mutual adoration for. Many years ago, when planning our wedding, the utterly heartbreaking scene between Laura Linney and Rodrigo Santoro left such an impact on us that Songbird became our first dance song, so please forgive me if I gush just a little.
Love Actually is the perfect Sunday evening film to wrap up with a cup of Hot Chocolate, a cozy blanket and someone you love and enjoy for what it is. Sure there are certain storylines that fall straight off the wall, but enough you know what is thrown that at least one moment will leave a lasting memory.
Throughout the film, most of the actors take to their roles in effortless fashion, the less we talk about Kris Marshall the better, am I right? Whether it’s Neeson helping his stepson learn the drums, Emma Thompson tragically coming to terms with husband Rickman’s infidelity, or Lincoln creepily professing his love for Keira Knightly through those massive cards, to me, this film is perfect for what Christmas is.
If the season to be jolly and joyous hasn’t yet nipped at your nose, you could do much worse than hunting out Love Actually to get that wee spring in your step and the warmth of the season into your soul.
Not seen Love Actually before? Let us know what you thought! Use #Festive2U with your reactions and let us know what other films make you feel festive!