Notting Hill

Notting Hill is a charming, quirky romantic comedy about the tall, white owner of a small bookstore whose customer one day happens to be a top American actress. The two fall in love, amid several clumsy and awkward encounters smoothed over somewhat by Grant's self-deprecating good manners. Fans of inane British humor will love this (so much less raunchy than Monty Python).

Much of the fun comes from watching as William interacts with oddball Britishers as Anna watches: a shoplifter, William's lodger, and his "underachieving" family and friends at his little sister's birthday party. For Anna, though, these quirky encounters are more real than the self-centered lot of overachievers and hangers-on who fill her movie star life.

Written by Richard Curtis, who also scripted fairly foul-mouthed films like "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and TV series like "Blackadder", it enjoyed a somewhat mixed reaction. Fans of his somewhat formulaic work got what they expected and fans of more cutting-edge comedy got something to complain about.