How Innocent Is Harry?

[veradee]

Last night, I did my annual pre-Christmas watching of Love Actually, and when the scene came when we meet Harry and Mia for the first time, I wondered who actually starts flirting. When he tells her to organise the Christmas party, he asks her, "Oh Christ, you haven't got some horrible six-foot tight-T-shirt-wearing boyfriend you'll be bringing,

Comments

[veradee]

Oh, if he had just asked whether she would be bringing a boyfriend, I would regard it as a causal question, but since he describes someone who's the opposite of himself, it seems to me that he might try to figure out what kind of men she likes.

I agree that he isn't out of line really, but so far I had always accepted the poopular view that Mia is a men-eating vamp and that Harry is a poor victim, who couldn't help himself, but last night I thought that actually this isn't exactly true. It seemed to me that he is surprised that she would consider him but at the same time he always knows very well what she is up to.

[veradee]

You know, Harry does seem very interested in everyone's love life!

He probably thought that their love life is more interesting than his own. Since I'm not married, I can't compare it to any personal experience, but his and Karen's relationship strikes me as particularly boring.

But sometimes men of that age really appreciate it when a younger woman pays them some attention.

That's certainly the case. :)

[rosedemon]

Harry is the least favorite of Rickman's characters, although in the movie I think he serves a huge purpose. I mean the plot is all about love with different people and Harry does represent the long time married love. Where all the other characters are living the thrill of a new love, Harry almost loses love by his affair. I always love the end where he and his wife meet at the airport. There seems to have been something resolved but you know both of them will have to go a long way to recover totally.

As far as Harry flirting...I believe most men live by the credo of a cat which is it never hurts to ask. I had the impression Harry was not doing anything different than any other time he interacted with a pretty woman. Mia just called him out and offered what no one else had. You do see in some scenes he is uneasy with the idea but is still drawn to it.

My opinions. Not right or wrong. Still love the movie at the holidays or anytime.

[veradee]

There seems to have been something resolved but you know both of them will have to go a long way to recover totally.

It always seems to me that he would like to return to how it was before, but it's her who (understandably, in my opinion) needs much more time.

[arphile]

Harry has a kind of world-weary semi-sarcastic air (as when he's talking with Laura Linney), and so IMO his question about the boyfriend was along those lines. He wasn't flirting with Mia, just being typically Harry, expecting a reaction similar to what he gets from the other women in the office (since they probsbly treat him like an older brother or uncle). Mia's behavio caught him totally off guard--and he was completely out of his league.

Don't get me wrong, he was totally responsible for his decisions, actions and for their destructive consequences. Bad Harry!

AR has said "he's [Harry's] just a guy," but not all guys are like that, notably AR! :-)

[veradee]

just being typically Harry

Perhaps that's what I'm missing. We never get to see how he interacts with any other female employees. Apart from Sarah, who clearly is interested in someone else.

[veradee]

Hasn't it been released in Nicaragua? With so many popular actors among the cast, I just assumed it was released world-wide.

[veradee]

So far I've always been very lucky when I bought something on the internet, but such an experience as you had would make me very hesitant to buy online again as well.

It's a pity, though. I think it's a lovely film, and due to the fact that it combines about ten different plots, I think it offers something for almost every viewer.

[veradee]

Wow, those numbers are impressive. Although the 0 per cent for women seems to be a bit low. I can't imagine that it is correct. Perhaps a few of the questioned women lied? ;)

[veradee]

No, I wouldn't, but I've known a couple of women who did.

If she invites him into her flat, it doesn't make much of a difference either if she lives on her own.