Life on Rural Street

I want to talk about one of my all-time favorite movies, Notting Hill. Now before you think I'm completely shallow, and just a "girly-girl" who likes a good romantic comedy - let me explain why I love this movie so much.

I love the sincerity of the characters. I think Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant do a fantastic job at portraying "real" people. Hugh Grant's character owns this travel bookstore that is basically going nowhere and he lives with an unbelievably hopeless roomate who really is little less than normal.(understatement!) Julia Robert's character is supposed to be someone much like herself in real life. Which perhaps, is why she plays the role so well. But she tries to show that even famous people deal with the same problems you and I do. Being famous won't solve your problems or make your life easier. In fact, according to this movie, fame only complicates things.

The comedic moments in this movie are great! I laugh just thinking about them. The wit & dry type of humor is what I love the most. I especially love scenes in the bookstore with a couple different customers, Hugh Grant's attempt to scale a fence, and the interaction with his "less than normal" roomate, Spike.

The movie also gives a great picture of what many of our lives are actually like. No one in the movie is having an easy go of things. Not the famous actress, not the bookstore owner, not the friend in a wheelchair, not the sister who can't find a man who can treat her with respect, no one. And truth be told, none of us ever have an easy go of things easier. Such is life.

When situations like this are portrayed so well it compells me to remember that there is much more to life than the current situation. There is more to live for - and today is not the end to all. Today is not all there is. I'm so glad for that.