‘NOTTING HILL’
Sundown, Riverfest Amphitheatre. Free.
It’s a rom-com of the first order — schmaltzy, predictable and fluffy. But I got stuck on it the other day on HBO and, I cannot tell I lie, I sort of misted a little. Julia Roberts just has such a nice, big toothy smile, and she’s playing a movie star, and not just a movie star, but like the biggest movie star, which she’s obviously more than qualified to do, so when, after making several cavalier relationship gaffes, she comes hat-in-hand to Hugh Grant’s bumbling bookstore owner, it’s, well, pretty freaking sweet. Plus, you know, there’s some serious wish-fulfillment at work here. How many of us former book clerks haven’t dreamed of Julia Roberts coming hat-in-hand to our store? This also, you’ll barely remember, was the big debut for oafishly charming Rhys Ifans as Grant’s roommate. Fellas, here’s a chance for the cheapest date ever. As always, Movies in the Park is free. Beach towels, lawn chairs and coolers are welcome.