Analysis of a romantic comedy

On 7th of November in Media Studies we analysed
Notting Hill

Notting Hill is a romantic comedy staring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. Released on 21 May 1999.

The film starts with a blank screen and the audience can hear a cheering crowd, this is non diagetic sound but seems to be diagetic as it fits in with the pictures on screen. Anna Scotts’ (Julia Roberts) face shows on screen in many media situations, along the red carpet etc. This gives the audience an impression that her character is famous and that the media is almost obsessed with her. This amplifies Anna Scotts’ characters glamorous lifestyle.
The backing along with the sound of the crowd there is Elvis Costello singing “she”, this is a typical romantic song about a man loving a woman. This song goes perfectly tone of the film, it introduces the audience to love situations.

There is a monologue introducing the leading male actor, Hugh Grant. William Thacker, as the character is known, starts on the theme of Anna Scott then digresses mentioning his surroundings. Then he goes one with a string of one liner jokes which starts the comedy element of the film. Along with these jokes there are a lot of establishing shots of William Thackers’ local area, these establishing shots get the audience use to the surround areas that they will need to be aware of in the film.

Once William Thacker is introduced we find ourselves in his apartment with his half naked flatmate. There is a massive contrast between two characters, William Thacker is charming, very english and appears very intelligent. Spike has a very strong welsh accent, thoroughly uncharming and is described as "the stupidest person in the world". Again Spike adds humour to this romantic comedy, but he does also play a useful role in the characterisation of William Thacker. He helps make William Thacker look like a better male to be with, as Spike cant choose appropriate T-shirts for a date where as William Thacker appears rather good with his appearance and sophistication.

William Thacker, our protagonist, is in a failing business which seems to mirror his failing love life. Then Anna Scott comes to buy a book from his travel book shop. This is interrupted by a drunken thief stealing a book by putting it in his underwear, this is again typical of a romantic comedy. The potential couple get distracted by a usually slapstick and comedic moment.

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