Love Actually Director Admits Big Film Error That Makes Him Feel Stupid
Christmas classic? Yes. Outdated and obsolete in many ways? Also yes — even the director agrees.
As soon as December hits calendars, many people put on Love Actually on their screens and sip their marshmallow cocoa as the classic 2003 romcom fills them with Christmas cheer. However, modern times are not always about cheer exclusively.
It turns out that the movie hasn't actually aged well, even for its director, Richard Curtis, who recently admitted one of his film's biggest errors. According to him, it's the lack of diversity — and to Curtis, this flaw is so outstanding now that he wishes he could change it.
"There are things that you would change, but thank God society is changing. My film is bound in some moments to feel out of date. The lack of diversity makes me feel uncomfortable and a bit stupid," Curtis told ABC in a Love Actually special for the channel.
The director said he wants to make a documentary about human love around the world — particularly in an attempt to fix the mistake of Love Actually and make it "better".
However, not everyone on social media was ready to share the sentiment, ready to defend Love Actually from "cancel culture" — even when it comes from the director himself.
"Why is there an automatic requirement for extreme diversity in film? I don't feel that it would be improved with a lesbian or gay storyline or a greater range of ethnicity in its cast – the film is fine as is," Twitter user imahumanespud argued.
Another fan recalled that the very opening scene of the movie in fact follows an interracial marriage. Others added that movies do not have "to check every box" in order to be good. After all, the movie was made two decades ago, when trends and standards were different.
"Love Actually is 20 years old, let's not forget that. It lacks diversity by today's standards, but it was relevant at the time it was made. We can't keep "cancelling" things from the past because they don't fit in with today's narrative. If it offends you, simply don't watch it," Twitter user samharding suggested.
Love Actually was released in 2003, and since then, it has evolved into some sort of a Christmas romantic classic. No matter what fans or even the movie's own director think, time will tell whether the movie manages to stay relevant even as society changes.