"Can I Stay A Bit Longer?"

Today we are graced with the wonderful presence of Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. And of course in incorrect alphabetical order. I have lost two movies in the cabinet, and by lost I mean I just looked at them and did not register that they were movies that started with an N and I should wait on the Ms. Oh dear. But the movie is Notting Hill. I forgot all the wonderful intricacies in this story. You know how I said I only purchase movies that I have seen many a time? Well that is true, but this movie is obviously one I have lost in the rotation. Since making the bold decision to get rid of any TV channels I have missed those Saturday afternoon matinee showings of this film on TBS. If you, my millions of blog followers, hadn't noticed I have many movies to choose from and this is an unfortunate side effect of that luxury. 

This film is about an American actress Anna Scott and her on again and off again relationship with a travel bookstore owner Will Thatcher. We follow them from his crush on her from afar, similar to how I would not kick Ryan Gosling out of my bed for eating crackers (if you know what I mean :)) to a time when they are actually introduced in person. As viewers we have a front row seat to love and hate and love again. Take note readers of our Ryan Gosling reference- our next film is an even better love story that makes me cry EVERYTIME I watch it- just like those beginning scenes of Up (click here to read about my tears in that movie.)

There is some great dialog in this movie that seems really real to me. I wonder if the writer Richard Curtis actually heard some of these lines in his relationships:
"Don't think about it we'll sort it out." Isn't that the best thing to hear from the person you love? Just that total feeling of someone being on your side and in your corner when the bell rings to start the round. 
Then there is that familiarity of knowing someone so well in the scene where they are reading in the living room- even though they are just together in that one day. I hate to write a post about love in a lovey dovey kind of way but that is how this film struck me today. I think that my heart must be in a love mood with all this wind and scariness outside. But goodness this movie is so sweet! I am in love with Hugh Grant today! Even more than Anna Scott. And his character's last name is Thacker so that makes it even better!

There are also some funny lines in this film- like when they are laying head to toe in bed and Anna Scott asks "What is it about men and nudity- about breasts? What is all the fuss about?" Will actually takes a quick look to be sure he can answer that question! So funny!

And one of the many sweet parts in this film, when Anna asks "Can I stay a bit longer?" and Will answers "Stay forever." Ahh my heart melts.

Then she just destroys him with the line "I will regret this forever" after she is photographed in one of his dashing blue and white striped shirts. She looks quite nice for just waking up and forgetting the jam downstairs. I would not have minded that beautiful of a photo of me taken! And finally probably the most famous line from this movie, "Don't forget, I'm just a girl standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her." When Anna utters those words and Will's self preservation kicks in you just want to get off the couch and watch the rest of the film jumping around the living room. Well at least that is what I want to do! Ok, I will admit it- I did jump around the living room for the last few minutes of this film. 

If an RA were thinking about this wonderful film and its great dialog I would recommend planning a program about roommates. Spike is Will's roommate in this film and he plays a crucial role in the plot. After your residents see Will and Spike's relationship they might be grateful for the roommate that they have! No one can be as bad as Spike! Maybe include a worksheet so they can document all of the roommate courtesies that Spike violates through the film. Then each roommate pair can hang that on the back of their room door as a constant reminder of how not to treat each other.