"Variety"'s Derek Elley said that "It's slick, it's gawky, it's 10 minutes too long, and it's certainly not ""Four Weddings and a Funeral" Part 2" in either construction or overall tone", giving it an overall positive review. "Cranky Critic" called it "Bloody damned good", as well as saying that it was "A perfect date flick." "Nitrate" said that ""Notting Hill" is whimsical and light, fresh and quirky", with "endearing moments and memorable characters". In his review of the film's DVD John J. Puccio noted that "the movie is a fairy tale, and writer Richard Curtis knows how much the public loves a fairy tale", calling it "a sweet film". Desson Howe of "The Washington Post" gave the film a very positive review, particularly praising Rhys Ifans' performance as Spike. James Sanford gave "Notting Hill" three and a half stars, saying that "Curtis' dialogue may be much snappier than his sometimes dawdling plot, but the first hour of "Notting Hill" is so beguiling and consistently funny it seems churlish to complain that the rest is merely good." Sue Pierman of the "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" stated that ""Notting Hill" is clever, funny, romantic– and oh, yes, reminiscent of "Four Weddings and a Funeral"", but that the film "is so satisfying, it doesn't pay to nitpick." Roger Ebert praised the film, saying "the movie is bright, the dialogue has wit and intelligence, and Roberts and Grant are very easy to like." Kenneth Turan gave a good review, concluding that "the film's romantic core is impervious to problems". CNN reviewer Paul Clinton said that "Notting Hill" "stands alone as another funny and heartwarming story about love against all odds".