Love Actually will be on many of our watch lists this Christmas, and it's interesting to see how the cast has changed over the years.
Christmas is a time of coming together and arguing about which festive flick is the best.
Notable mentions include: Elf, The Grinch, Home Alone, and of course Die Hard - which is totally a Christmas movie.
But for me, Love Actually reigns supreme and it isn't Christmas without watching it at least once.
Although the movie generally has a feel-good factor, there is one certain storyline that annoys us every year.
What I am referring to is of course the plot involving Harry, Karen, and Mia - played by Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, and Heike Makatsch respectively.
A pivotal moment in Love Actually features Mia attempting to seduce Karen's husband Harry at a Christmas party, where she dons a revealing outfit complete with devil horns.
This portrayal has cemented Mia as one of the most reviled characters in the film, with fans continuing to blame Harry’s betrayal for Karen’s heart-wrenching tears.
But before you get angry at Alan Rickman, remember that it's only a movie and he sacrificed himself to save Harry Potter so...
Now aged 53, Makatsch is a far cry from her Love Actually persona.
Sporting long, blonde hair, she is nearly unrecognizable as the enigmatic Mia.
Despite maintaining a low public profile, Makatsch has enjoyed a steady career in the entertainment industry.
Since her role in Love Actually, Makatsch has appeared in films like The Book Thief (2013).
She is also a singer, with tracks such as Stand by Your Man and This Girl Was Made for Loving gaining attention. Beyond acting and singing, Makatsch has served as a spokesmodel for L'Oréal since 2012.
Makatsch’s personal life has also drawn intrigue. She dated James Bond actor Daniel Craig from 1996 to 2004.
Despite Love Actually being a favorite during the holidays, it is not immune to scrutiny under a modern microscope.
On an episode of The Jeremy Vine Show last year, the host dissected the film, identifying five so-called “red flags” he believes viewers should consider.
The clip, which has since circulated online, begins with Vine criticizing the film’s lack of diversity, noting that “all the characters in the film are white except Peter, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who is Black.”
Vine added that Peter’s best friend, Mark (played by Andrew Lincoln), is “a truly ghastly person,” citing his unrequited love for Peter’s wife, Juliet (Keira Knightley).
“This guy is the one who is basically in love with Keira Knightley, who is married,” Vine said, before questioning: “[Are we] supposed to think it’s interesting? It’s sort of, somehow, I don’t know, exciting or sympathetic?”
Vine went on to brand Mark as a “stalker” for his infamous cue card scene, in which he silently professes his love to Juliet.
The third red flag, according to Vine, is the absence of LGBTQ+ representation in the movie. “All the couples are straight,” he noted, asking, “Where are the gay characters?”
He also criticized the fat-shaming of Natalie, played by McCutcheon, pointing to scenes where she is referred to as “chubby” and “plumpy.” “Why the fat-shaming?” he asked, as a montage of the remarks played onscreen.
The final critique in Vine’s list addressed gender dynamics, claiming the film depicts “the control of all the women by their respective men.”
Thoughts?
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