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The annual Trout Nation Love, Actually watch-a-long!

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I’m dreaming of the kind of Christmas where some hot Portuguese chick with a lower back tattoo leaps into a pond to save my shitty manuscript.

Just kidding. Unlike Colin Firth, I’m not a hipster who thinks a novel needs to be written on a fucking typewriter.

Anyway, it’s that time of year again! Time to watch Love, Actually with each other as a family, and tweet about it like we don’t realize that it’s actually a pretty fucked up movie.

Merry Christmas

Last year, we did three watch-a-long times, but I found out that I can’t watch Emma Thompson cry three times in one day, so this year, let’s meet up at these times:

Friday, December 19, 4 p.m. EST (UTC -5)

Friday, December 19, 8 p.m. EST (UTC -5)

Start your DVD, streaming service, or illegally downloaded file that you’re going to pretend is one of those two at one of those time, hop on Twitter, and tweet to the hashtag #BillyMack so we can all chat about the movie together!

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18 Comments

  1. I didn’t know that this was a thing that existed, nor a thing that I needed, until this very moment.

    Most irrelevant, I watched this movie for the first time last year and it was less than a year after my infidelity-driven divorce. That Emma Thompson stuff was brutal, jesus.

    December 12, 2014
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  2. Kim H
    Kim H

    Awwwww Yiss!

    I’m (love) actually going to be able to participate this year! marking my calendar as we speak.

    December 12, 2014
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  3. Candy Apple
    Candy Apple

    Oh, good. It’s not Christmas unless there’s crying and abject depression. I’m in.

    December 12, 2014
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  4. Nim
    Nim

    I’m so amped for this! I was just telling my boyfriend about how much I love this Christmas-y movie and when he asked what it was about I realized how depressing it sounded… Funny how I didn’t notice while watching. But I still love it.

    I only recently got a twitter so I can finally be involved in these sorts of things haha. I didn’t get a chance to watch it last year so I was going to make up for it this year- a watch-a-long seems like the perfect remedy. I’m kind of a moron at twitter though so if I mess up lets just pretend it didn’t happen.

    December 12, 2014
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  5. neocleo
    neocleo

    Once was enough of “Love, Actually” for me. But y’all watch on with all the joy and wonder this season brings!!

    December 12, 2014
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  6. Spockchick
    Spockchick

    Without doubt the most misogynistic movie masquerading as Christmas fluff I have ever had the misfortune to see. Laura Linney’s character is treated appallingly; not allowed to have a relationship as she is the ‘angel/carer’ role. Emma Thomson humiliated, Kiera Knightley guilted and embarassed by her husband’s best friend. I’d love to see a Jenny snark on this! 🙂

    December 13, 2014
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  7. Some Hussy
    Some Hussy

    I always watch The Hogfather for Christmas and the complete series of Witch Hunter Robin. WHR has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas other than I received the complete series for Christmas one year so I watch every year about this time. Ho ho ho witches bitches.

    December 13, 2014
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    • Sarah Dixon
      Sarah Dixon

      Hogfather is amazing. I love Terry Pratchett’s Death.

      December 14, 2014
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  8. K
    K

    I wish I could join again this year! I will be unavailable that night. Don’t worry – I’m watching it tonight trying not to sob at this Joni Mitchell CD scene.

    December 14, 2014
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    • Vegasjellyfish
      Vegasjellyfish

      That scene! That scene! It gets me every time. I just want to punch Snape.

      December 23, 2014
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  9. Kelsey
    Kelsey

    Fuck. Yes.

    I have to translate those times to my time zone. And get twitter. And then I’m so in.

    December 14, 2014
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    • Gray
      Gray

      me too! i had to google timezones, and according to my (hopefully correct) calculations i’d have to do this at around 4am on a Saturday. I’m in.

      December 17, 2014
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  10. Sushi
    Sushi

    It’s been ages since I watched this film, might have to join in.

    December 15, 2014
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  11. Cressida
    Cressida

    Not on Twitter here, but I followed along last year and will do so again on Friday!

    I have a soft spot for the film in spite of hating a LOT of it, and until recently my mum would defend it against most criticism. (Jack and Judy’s relationship is the only one I consider quasi-realistic beyond the meet-cute: They Use Their Words.) Honest Trailers came out with a “Love, Actually” edition, so I asked her to watch that with me…she was shocked and agreeing at how truly problematic it was. This year’s watching of the film is going to be fun.

    December 15, 2014
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  12. Lucy
    Lucy

    I don’t get the problem with this movie, and I don’t see why it’s misogynist? Can someone explain?

    I really like this movie, and it’s partly because not all of them do get a happy ending. It’s called Love Actually, and love can suck and be extremely painful. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns for everyone.

    My mother said the scene with Emma Thompson really struck a nerve because she remembered what it was like trying to be ok in front of the kids whilst dying inside. I almost cry every time I see it, she does it so well.

    They mention in the Honest Trailer that the guy (Rick Grimes) who is in love with Keira Knightley tries to bang her, but it seems to me he does everything not to bang her even though he clearly wants to.

    Hope you guys have fun tweeting :D.

    December 15, 2014
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    • Jellyfish
      Jellyfish

      I liked Love Actually a lot the first time I saw it! I thought it was funny and sweet. But on repeat views, it really has a lot of problems. Mainly stalking-type behavior depicted as romantic (Rick Grimes is SO out of line) and the fact that most of the women don’t talk and/or are socially lesser than the dudes they’re paired with. I was also pretty annoyed by the depiction of American women as twangy, cowboy-hat-wearing hotties who will fall crotch-first on any British man like ravenous hyenas.
      For a more exhaustive take on why Love Actually is kind of terrible, check out Lindy West’s Jezebel article: http://jezebel.com/i-rewatched-love-actually-and-am-here-to-ruin-it-for-al-1485136388

      December 27, 2014
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      • JennyTrout
        JennyTrout

        Rick Grimes was a dick in so many ways, but I think the part I hate the most is that Keira Knightly now has no wedding video. Like, this dick was too selfish to even shoot a little bit of the ceremony. 00/10, would not date.

        December 28, 2014
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        • Jellyfish
          Jellyfish

          “I love you and value you! Yet I am completely unable to respect your stated wishes about anything or think about how my actions will affect you as a person. I am Rick Grimes and I am gross.” Seriously, shooting a wedding video and only filming close-ups of the bride is, like, serial killer stuff.

          December 28, 2014
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