It's almost time to watch Love Actually again! But have you ever noticed there are very few couples in it that display healthy or normal relationships? For example, Liam Neeson lets his stepson run unaccompanied through an airport towards a girl he’s barely said one word to. Colin just wants sex, while Alan Rickman cheats on his wife; though this is unrealistic because Emma Thompson is a goddess. Then of course you have Colin Firth proposing to a woman he’s never had a true conversation with. Sure, Hugh Grant and Natalie seem like a cute couple, but he does fire her instead of getting over his little crush and doing his job. And don’t even get me started on how creepy the Walking Dead dude is with his cue cards to a MARRIED WOMAN! Also, the movie is lacking a larger role for a person of color, and only focuses on platonic or heterosexual love. Now before you allow me to ruin you illusions of love, there is one couple in Love Actually that is true relationship goals.
Yes, I am talking about John and “Just Judy,” the lovable stand-ins played by Martin Freeman and Joanna Page. Let’s start with their first meeting. They clearly have an initial chemistry; even their small talk is charming as they discuss traffic and past jobs. In the middle of their chat, Judy is asked to begin by taking off her top. John, while having the perfect opportunity to sneak a peek or say a lewd comment simply says, “I promise I won’t look.” He then proceeds to turn around and do just that.
From the start we see a respect that John has for Judy, and he goes out of his way to make her feel comfortable in a job that she is clearly used to. When he is asked to touch her, he tries to make her laugh and warms his hands first. Sure it’s a small action, but it’s the little things that count right? They continue on their idle chatter, clearly eager to make each other comfortable and to open a friendship.
Later, we see them yet again, this time in a more compromising position with far less clothing. They talk about politics, and as always make each other laugh. Out of all the things John could say, he tells her that it’s so nice to find someone he can talk to so easily. Judy replies “ditto” with an adorably British smile.
The next scene with our two lovebirds shows a very nude John struggling to ask out an equally nude Judy. He rambles and is awkward, adorably embarrassed not because of their situation, but because he likes this woman very much. He also mentions that nothing is implied; he’s not forcing her into a romantic situation, and is clearly okay with no for an answer. He even thanks her for being so kind, because usually he is too shy to make a move so soon.
I love this couple because first off, they are comfortable with their bodies. Neither is embarrassed or scared to be naked. Second, they are able to discern “sex” from true intellectual attraction. They do their job all the time with multiple people, but for some reason, these two connect. They exemplify the idea that love is more than just sex or beauty.
Later the two are on their date, and John has kindly walked Judy home. They nervously talk about the fun they had, and we see that John wants to kiss her. However, he would never make her feel uncomfortable, so he lets her decide whether she wants to share a goodnight kiss with him. She does, and after kissing him explains “All I want for Christmas is you.” She goes inside and we see John leap for joy through the snowflakes.
He doesn’t pressure her to let him come in, nor does he force himself on her. He doesn’t make some argument that because her job is so risque that this shouldn’t be any different. These are two people that hold a mutual and equal respect for each other. Unlike other couples in the movie, their affections seem evenly matched. Another wonderful trait these two share is eye contact. They always look each other in the eyes, versus wandering to sneak peaks at other body parts.
Towards the end of the movie, John and Judy can be seen walking into the children’s play with what we can assume is John’s friend. This may not seem like a big deal, but this implies that Judy is so eager to spend time with John, she would be willing to attend some boring children’s play where she doesn’t know anyone. Both are also adorably stumped when asked to explain where they met. In the auditorium we see them cutely dancing together to the song she alluded to earlier in the movie. If foreshadowing doesn’t imply true love, what does?
The last time we see the couple, they are running through the airport. We see that they have gotten married and are eager to share the news with their friend. Bubbly and giggling, the two look perfectly happy. John quips playfully, “finally get to shag at last.” While I am not against premarital sex, I think it speaks a lot that this couple who met as stand-ins, decided to wait until they were married. Love is not sex, and no matter what your occupation, you are in charge of your body and what you do with it.
Of course this is all my opinion, but I truly believe that John and Judy, who only occupy around four minutes of a two hour movie, are the best couple in Love Actually.
Feel free to tell me your favorite couple or scene in the comments below!
