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'The Very Thought' of Hugh is enough

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Reel Critics column features movie critiques written by community members serving on our panel.


This past year seems to have brought on a mini "British invasion" at the movies, what with "Shakespeare in Love," "Elizabeth," "Austin Powers," "Notting Hill," "Stiff Upper Lip," etc. For those Anglophiles looking for their next fix, now there is "The Very Thought of You," a modest British romantic comedy. It's sort of a "Notting Hill" light -- it has only 1/3 the star power and half the fat.

As told in flashback, we meet Martha (Monica Potter, in the Julia Roberts role) who boards a flight from Minneapolis to London with only $35 to her name and an urgent wish to get a fresh start on life. She meets Daniel (Tom Hollander), a self-absorbed music executive who immediately tries to finagle a seat next to her on the plane.

Martha later meets Frank (Rufus Sewell, the anti-Hugh Grant), a self-absorbed former child actor tailor-made for one of those "whatever happened to" programs on TV. They strike up a conversation about their sad lives in the park over a shared pint of whiskey.

At this point, the movie seems as aimless and meandering as Frank and Martha. But finally she meets Lawrence (Joseph Fiennes, of "Shakespeare in Love"), a not-quite-so-self-absorbed bridge teacher (don't ask). If you have any doubts about Lawrence being more sensitive and sincere than the other two guys, just take a look at those big brown puppy-dog eyes. The major plot of this movie is that all three men are 1) extremely attractive losers in their own right; 2) lifelong friends with little in common; and 3) in love with Martha. You can probably figure out the rest.

Add the nearly exact same ending as "The Thomas Crown Affair," and you have 90 minutes with all the charm and gusto of a cup of Earl Grey and a toasted scone.


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