It’s time to end the madness: Christmas classic under fire

“Directors having to apologise for movies they made 20 years ago would be like me having to reach out to someone from high school that I said something mean to once and ask for forgiveness.”

Should classic movies that missed the PC memo face cancellation in an era that champions woke values? 

As Love Actually reaches its two-decade milestone, director Richard Curtis has shared insights into the cringeworthy jokes that have left many reconsidering the beloved festive film.

The star-studded movie is no stranger to scrutiny and it seems every time Christmas rolls around, the same issues are raised.

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Love Actually's timeless charm under the 2020s microscope

Love Actually, a quintessential Christmas feel-good flick, is under scrutiny for its not-so-cool portrayal of women and some seriously outdated jokes. 

The director behind the cult film recently opened up about several jokes that didn't age gracefully. 

The punchline featuring Martine McCutcheon's character, Natalie, is raising eyebrows, prompting many to question whether the holiday favourite needs a contemporary revamp.

These kinds of jokes wouldn't fly in 2023. Source: Universal Pictures

#BodyPosi: viewers call out body shaming moments 

In an era that champions body positivity and self-acceptance, viewers are pointing out what they see as major 'body shaming' vibes directed at McCutcheon's character.

In the scene, Natalie is described as being 'massive', with her colleague Annie referring to her as 'the chubby girl' who has a 'sizeable arse and huge thighs'.

McCutcheon herself voiced her perspective, suggesting that if Love Actually were made today, it might skip the outdated weight-related jibes. 

She candidly addressed the imperfections in the characters as reflections of human emotion but emphasised the need for our favourite films to evolve with the times.

At the Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, Curtis reflected on the past, acknowledging that once-hilarious jokes no longer hit the mark. 

While he insists he wasn't intentionally insensitive, he recognises a need for a directorial glow-up in sync with the changing times.

Cancel culture vs. nostalgia: Love Actually in the hot seat

Classic films are constantly getting caught in a dilemma – do we preserve them as nostalgic time capsules or consider cancelling them for not aligning with contemporary values? 

Love Actually, once the epitome of holiday feels, finds itself at the intersection of nostalgia and evolving PC culture, challenging us to reconsider in the context of the 2020s.

Described as 'the chubby girl' there's no question it's a little cringe. Source: Universal Pictures

What do others think?

Is it a timeless gem, or do we need to rethink our holiday traditions? 

Social media manager Carly shared, “Directors having to apologise for movies they made 20 years ago would be like me having to reach out to someone from high school that I said something mean to once and ask for forgiveness.”

News Editor Joel agreed by saying, “Judging older media by modern standards is silly.”

Let's just agree it's a dated movie and move on.

Personally, I don't see the hype in the movie and would argue it's hardly a classic- to my family's horror.

Now, if you need me, I'll be watching a real Christmas movie, The Grinch.

Originally published as It’s time to end the madness: Christmas classic under fire