WITHOUT it Hugh Grant would never have hit the Hollywood A list. He probably would have still hit Hollywood Boulevard, but no one would have cared.

Wet Wet Wet wouldn’t have spent what felt like an eternity at the top of the UK singles chart warbling their cover of The Troggs’ Love Is All Around and Elizabeth Hurley wouldn’t have gone out in a dress made of safety pins, providing the launchpad for her modelling career.

Has it really been 20 years since romantic comedy classic Four Weddings and a Funeral was released, leaving a huge impact on the film industry, pop, weddings, funerals, hairstyles and fashion in its wake?

I hadn’t noticed.

From the hysterical opening scene, peppered with the F-word, the flick is a funny and charming take on Britishness, which sees a group of upper-middleclass pals bumble and booze their way through the nuptials of various acquaintances while themselves seeking love.

In the interests of nostalgia, I enjoyed a re-run for the first time in years this week and familiarity has certainly not bred contempt for me.

Carrie’s hat and the brides array of meringues aside, the film has really stood the test of time – and I put that down to the chemistry and charm of its cast.

Plus of course, there’s Richard Curtis, who succeeded where others failed in making the romcom trendy, producing a string of other hits including the Bridget Jones films, Love Actually and Notting Hill.

And that’s because, in the words of Simon Callow (Gareth in Four Weddings) his films are joyful – joyful for highly vocal drunkenness and they celebrate true love. In whatever shape or form it may come.

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