MovieChat Forums > Notting Hill (1999) Discussion > Watched it again last night, "lack of Ch...

Watched it again last night, "lack of Chemistry."

posted 9 years ago by TxMike
11 replies | jump to latest

I own the BluRay of this movie and it is one I watch periodically, I like everything about it.

Every few weeks it seems someone posts something here about "lack of Chemistry". Well that's the whole point, isn't it?

Anna and William couldn't be more different. She is American, she is a famous and wealthy actress, she lives in a fantasy world with handlers, she seems very happy in it but realizes it is all fake, all superficial, with no genuine friends who like her for who she is.

He is English, he is mostly anonymous, he runs a book shop that loses money, but he has a great set of close friends, their idea of a good evening is celebrating a birthday and having fun.

This movie works precisely because of this and of course there is "no Chemistry" when it begins. Even William, the logical one, knows it and that is why near the end he tells her he will pass on her request. He just doesn't see it working. He doesn't understand Anna yet.

The movie would have been totally different, and vastly inferior, if they had hit it off right away and every encounter had turned out perfectly. We are entertained by watching the struggle, by enjoying the journey and at the very end we see that they do in fact "have Chemistry", it just takes a while for both of them to get to that point.

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes not. Either way the implication is staggering.

[–] speedy1383 8 years ago

Love the film as you do. But I hate hate how William seems to apologize or just grovel that he isn't in her league. It annoys me to no end when he does that constantly throughout the whole film. Ok we get it. She's famous, but she's still a human being.

[–] sunchick116-872-583383 8 years ago

funny enough, when the movie ended, my brain immediately said ' i think this is the first time i've ever seen a woman apologize'. i didn't see will apologize or grovel at all. every time she had a tantrum, he missed her terribly but never reached out. THAT would be groveling.

as to the OP, i completely agree with you. that WAS the whole point and furthermore, just because everyone else put anna on a pedastal, doesn't mean she did. she was insecure and paranoid and felt just as human as will. although i will disagree with you on one teeny point-they DID hit it off right away. she kissed him after changing her shirt. she liked him immediately.

[–] TaraCutrone (9) 3 years ago

THANK YOU. And it’s not just him. Max too makes a strong distinction between Will and Anna - she’s a goddess and he’s a mortal apparently. He was only half joking too. Like, guys, she’s human. They won’t be calling her a goddess when she’s older and her looks have faded a bit.

[–] whoanelly (1587) 3 years ago

Which is exactly what Anna tries to tell them during the brownie contest at dinner. Although they all laughed it off, Anna was actually being serious.

[–] TaraCutrone (9) 3 years ago

Indeed! Spot on.

[–] damocci (1514) 3 years ago

Isn't that the whole point of the famous line "I'm just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love me?"

[–] KinkyInk (1694) 3 years ago

For me, 'chemistry' in a romantic movie is more a reaction of the audience to the two characters involved. If the audience believes these two people inherently 'belong' together, then they have chemistry, and the audience is rooting for them. (Which is usually a requirement in a successful romantic story.)

The other things you mention, like the differences between them, are merely obstacles to them getting together, and make the plot more interesting.

[–] whoanelly (1587) 3 years ago

Plus their differences actually are the things that make them perfect for each other. They balance each other out. They each possess in their lives the thing or things the other one is lacking (and apparently needs).

[–] Otter (24464) 3 years ago

Actually, I think this movie has tons of a certain kind of chemistry... it's all about the STAR POWER, and both Roberts and Grant radiate it in every frame.

If I look at it with my real-life eye I can't see the relationship working out, but my movie-lover's eye sees these two people who are both lonely, vulnerable, incredibly good-looking, and charismatic, and thinks they totally belong together in spite of everything. What can I say, this movie is total piffle and proud of it, it's very enjoyable when you're in the right mood but it's not something to take seriously.

[–] TaraCutrone (9) 3 years ago

I think their chemistry is what makes it all work. Anna behaves pretty badly numerous times during the film. It's attraction that stops the kibosh being put on it all. Chemistry isn't about having everything in common, it's about being intrigued by one another.

[–] VonFisch (354) 3 years ago

Anna was made to be a hard read. Outside her overtures that seem to come out of nowhere in opposition to her personality, it's difficult to see her emotions and what she feels for William. I think she was made to be too guarded.

Her personality reminded me of Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate and although she slept with Benjamin, she totally acted blasé with him. We don't know if she felt anything for him at all, her emotions were unreadable and no chemistry with him.