With an unfortunately-timed bad mood at the premiere of Bridget Jones 2 leading to a fresh spat of newspaper criticism, some observers would be forgiven for thinking Hugh Grant was an escaped war criminal rather than Britain's leading screen star. Well, someone has to stick up for him, and let's not forget that Grant has been in some truly excellent movies. So, without further ado, here's a reminder of why Hugh is at the top of the Hollywood game:
10) BRIDGET JONES' DIARY - Hugh play's a not really very bad villain in this successful romantic comedy. Zellwegger is pretty convincing as a Brit and Colin Firth is likeable enough as the hero, but Grant has all the best lines and is the high point of the film.
9) EXTREME MEASURES - The movie that persuaded Grant to stick to romantic comedy. Despite the reputation of failure, Extreme Measures is in fact a successful and engaging medical thriller with great performances from Grant and sparring partner Gene Hackman. The ending is low key but everything leading up to it works fine.
8) RESTORATION - An unashamedly American view of English history, Restoration was a vehicle for talented but drug-loving star Robert Downey Jr. Astonishingly, it works wonderfully thanks to an interesting story and sterling
7) SENSE AND SENSIBILITY - Emma Thompson's finest hour, and her last decent work before going merrily bonkers. Jane Austen is a passable novelist, and director Ang Lee gets the most out of this tale of two women's' attempts to get hitched. Hugh is the nice one Thompson's character likes, whereas her real life beau Greg Wise plays Byronic bad man Willoughby, his only significant screen role to date.
6) BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON - Better than the first film, an astonishing achievement given that the source novel was decidedly poor. Grant delivers more of the same as Daniel Cleaver, which is brilliant, but Firth shines here, as he has more to do in this installment. You cant help but feel for the man as Bridget gets all insecure and messes him about.
5) LOVE ACTUALLY - Richard Curtis's romantic epic, clearly modeled on Robert Altman's fantastic duo of Nashville and Short Cuts. Grant steals the show as a single Prime Minister who falls for his Downing Street tea lady. Martine McCutcheon gives the performance of her career (in that she doesn't make the audience vomit at her mere presence).
4) ABOUT A BOY - Not a romantic comedy at all, despite being a Working Title / Hugh Grant combination. The central relationship is platonic (Thank Christ!) and beautifully played by both Hugh, moving away from his movie-star persona, and newcomer Nicholas Holt who portrayed the boy of the title. HG was nominated for a Golden Globe after this one.
3) FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL - The movie that turned Grant into a global superstar, and laid the template for a decade's worth of romantic comedy. Watch crap American imitations like The Wedding Planner and The Runaway Bride and marvel at how Richard Curtis turned Blighty into the Land of the Romcom. If you hate Four Weddings there is probably something
clinically wrong with you.
2) REMAINS OF THE DAY - Merchant Ivory struck gold with their tale of repressed love between dry old Super-butler Anthony Hopkins and lovely youngish housekeeper Emma Thompson. None of the domestic staff seem to notice that there boss is trying to cut a deal with Hitler. Grant has a supporting role as the only toff with half a brain. A period drama that doesn't suck.
1) NOTTING HILL - Okay, so this is really just a remake of Four Weddings, yet it's just different enough to feel fresh and Julia Roberts is a massive improvement on Andie MacDowell. The perfect fusion of British talent and American money, and complemented by the most likeable performance Roberts will ever give. Notting Hill is the Citizen Kane of the genre and in
years to come school children will no doubt be forced to watch it over and over and over and over.
So there we have it, not a bad selection really given I didn't even find room for Lair of the White Worm! Perhaps the American comedies have generally been less successful (although all are entertaining) but I can only think of one of his films which is actually really quite shit. An Awfully Big Adventure really was dire and is now rightly forgotten. Still, Grant's cinematic record is much better than most of his contemporaries and if Her Majesty the Queen is looking for someone deserving of a knighthood, she could do a lot worse....
Chris Denton.
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