# Love Actually question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 7, 2017, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567 "2017-01-07T21:16:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/1 "2017-01-07T21:16:28Z")
Why does Hugh Grant have Natalie reassigned to somewhere else when he clearly likes her? ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/2 "2017-01-07T21:20:03Z")
It is strange, I admit, because no world leader has ever gotten into trouble by having a relationship with an assistant. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/3 "2017-01-07T22:08:32Z")
Because David (the PM, played by Hugh Grant) is strongly contrasted with the President of the US (played by Billy Bob Thornton), who does make a pass at Natalie. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/4 "2017-01-07T22:09:49Z")
He is obviously a “work over relationships” kind of guy, which he explains to Billy Bob. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/5 "2017-01-08T02:01:20Z")
It is more that David (who does like Natalie) blames Natalie as well as the POTUS for allowing the Natalie/POTUS situation. This causes him to take a hard line with the UK/US political position, and to have Natalie reassigned out of his office. When he gets her card and realises that Natalie was not to blame for the situation, he realises that he has been a prat, and sets off to Wandsworth (the dodgy end) to find her. _Love Actually_ is full of “blink and you miss it” scenes like this. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/6 "2017-01-08T03:30:14Z")
It’s a couple of years since I’ve seen it but I didn’t think that David sent her away because of how she responded as such; it was more that he was concerned about his own potentially unwise attraction to her. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/7 "2017-01-08T05:54:35Z")
Yep, agree with unwise. Given the UK tabloid media, he thought it would be a distraction / scandal / complication / potential blackmail situation. But then he realised the course of true love, etc, etc … ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/8 "2017-01-08T08:17:50Z")
Because he’s an idiot. I liked the movie, but I didn’t like him. He was so twitchy and indecisive. It was hard to believe he was a world leader. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/9 "2017-12-06T20:59:38Z")
Bumped. Here’s a mini-sequel as a British charity fundraiser: [https://vimeo.com/220676481](https://vimeo.com/220676481) > **[Red Nose Day Actually](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Nose_Day_Actually)** > > Red Nose Day Actually is a 2017 British romantic comedy television short promotional film, following a dozen of the characters from Richard Curtis' Christmas film Love Actually, as part of the fundraising event Red Nose Day 2017. Curtis returns with many of the film's cast members including Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Andrew Lincoln, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keira Knightley, Martine McCutcheon, Bill Nighy, Thomas Sangster, Lúcia Moniz, Olivia Olson, Marcus Brigstocke, and Rowan Atkinson. The... ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/10 "2017-12-06T21:16:22Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Bumped. > > Here’s a mini-sequel as a British charity fundraiser: > > [https://vimeo.com/220676481](https://vimeo.com/220676481) > [Red Nose Day Actually - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Nose_Day_Actually) Thank you for this! I forgot this happened and I never actually (ha!) saw it. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/11 "2017-12-07T14:58:04Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Thank you for this! I forgot this happened and I never actually (ha!) saw it. Double ditto! That is a treat. Is there anything wrong with Bill Nighy’s hands, i.e. arthritis or something? He appears to be in a constant state of flipping off the DJ. Did his Character, Billy Mack, do that in the movie? I know he was profane and might have done that in his performances but this looked involuntary 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/12 "2017-12-07T15:43:07Z")
After watching it I’m a liiiiiitttttllleee disappointed in how much of the short was “You liked it when (character) did (action)? Well here it is again! But moderrrrrrn!” That being said:The greatest storyline in the movie is also the best clip in the short and that’s Liam Neeson and his son Sam. They have the best chemestry, the best characters and everything they do is just the best. The ending speech from Hugh Grant was nice too. Although I can’t tell if he liked or disliked the new Metallica album. “Cracker” is…good? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/13 "2017-12-07T15:47:46Z")
I kind of liked it. By itself it would seem overly sentimental for me, but it was fun to just see the characters again and it is essentially a self-parody. Unfortunately it didn’t have all the sex and nudity from the first film. Maybe if they do a full length version? ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/14 "2017-12-07T15:53:37Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > After watching it I’m a liiiiiitttttllleee disappointed in how much of the short was “You liked it when (character) did (action)? Well here it is again! But moderrrrrrn!” > > That being said:The greatest storyline in the movie is also the best clip in the short and that’s Liam Neeson and his son Sam. They have the best chemestry, the best characters and everything they do is just the best. > > The ending speech from Hugh Grant was nice too. Although I can’t tell if he liked or disliked the new Metallica album. “Cracker” is…good? Yes, cracker/cracking is good. 🙂 That was cheesy and silly and I loved every minute of it. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/15 "2017-12-07T17:38:57Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > …I can’t tell if [the Prime Minister] liked or disliked the new Metallica album. “Cracker” is…good? He liked it, but it doesn’t show up here: > **[Metallica discography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallica_discography)** > > The discography of American heavy metal band Metallica includes 11 studio albums, eight live albums, three extended plays, 49 singles, 10 video albums, 43 music videos, one soundtrack album, one collaboration album and three box sets. They are a San Francisco-based metal band formed in 1981 by James Hetfield (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Lars Ulrich (drums). After several bassist and lead guitarist changes (including Dave Mustaine), the band settled on Cliff Burton and Kirk Hammett, respect... [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_songs\_recorded\_by\_Metallica#C](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_recorded_by_Metallica#C) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/16 "2017-12-07T17:42:44Z")
I thought the short was quite charming, and it was great they were able to bring back so many of the original cast. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/17 "2017-12-07T18:39:13Z")
Do you think they didn’t show Emma Thompson’s character because her ending was sad? Obviously Alan Rickman had passed when this was made so maybe they thought it would be a downer but I think it would have been cool to have given him a nod somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/18 "2017-12-07T19:26:49Z")
The video short was a nice treat for a ‘cold’ December day here in Atlanta. I have mixed feelings about the Colin Firth bit. It seems as though his wife didn’t really love him so much; but had resigned herself to being a good wife and mother. It was sad to me. :’( Thanks Elendil’s Heir for pointing out this thread to me. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/19 "2017-12-07T19:31:08Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Do you think they didn’t show Emma Thompson’s character because her ending was sad? Obviously Alan Rickman had passed when this was made so maybe they thought it would be a downer but I think it would have been cool to have given him a nod somehow. I just found this: > **[Emma Thompson reveals why she won’t be part of the Love Actually sequel](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/emma-thompson-reveals-why-she-wont-be-part-of-the-love-actually-sequel/)** > > Thompson has said it’s “too sad” and “too soon” after the death of her co-star Alan Rickman ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567/20 "2017-12-07T19:37:24Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > I just found this: > [Love Actually sequel: Emma Thompson says Alan Rickman's death makes it "too sad" for her to join Comic Relief's Red Nose Day Actually | Radio Times](http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-02-24/emma-thompson-reveals-why-she-wont-be-part-of-the-love-actually-sequel/) Thanks; kind of what I imagined. I did miss her, though it makes sense. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-actually-question/776567.md?page=2)