Starring Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant and Rhys Ifans. Rated M.

SET in the quaint and very romantic London village of the title, Notting Hill tells the story of an ordinary man, doing his best to keep his little travel-book shop afloat. One day a stranger walks in simply to browse. Well, not exactly a stranger. The rather attractive lady in the dark sunglasses is none other than Anna Scott (Roberts), the most famous actress in Hollywood.

Being the cool, sophisticated inner-London gentleman shopkeeper, William Thacker (Grant) plays the situation as though there were nothing out of the ordinary. Sure doesn't every famous Hollywood type drop by when they are in town? Just another little anecdote to tell the grandkids one day.

But, 10 minutes later, fate takes a hand and turns this ordinary, everyday meeting into a life-changing phenomenon. William accidentally drenches the facade of the most famous actress in Hollywood, with orange juice. Being a local boy (18 yards from his front door) and a gentleman, he does the gentlemanly thing and offers Anna respite in his home to freshen up. Touched by his honesty and charm, Anna plants a kiss on his blushing cheek before departing his life forever. End of story. And the anecdote just got a whole lot bigger.

But wait. Anna phones. William gets the message two days later from his drongo flatmate and the wheels are set slowly but surely in motion.

From the makers of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill is an uproariously funny movie. It is a charming and beguiling romance of the most comic variety. A gem among gems. A very British masterpiece. You guessed it -- I liked it.

Hugh Grant is his typical, charming, self-effacing self. Julia Roberts is her usual, wide-smiling, beautiful self. And they are both very good in their respective parts. The real show stealers, however, are in the supporting roles. The Welch, struggling-artist, flatmate, adorably gross in his personal demeanor. The ugly-duckling sister, over compensating with effervescent personality. The circle of friends so close as to be tighter than family.

And then there's the plot. Every man's fantasy. An ordinary Joe Soap bumps into the most desirable woman on the face of the earth and she falls in love with me!!! And the great thing is that the cast, crew and scriptwriters actually deliver it as a believable, two-hour, fantasy that you can actually swallow (if you can catch your breath from the laughter).

Unfortunately, as with all fantasy, when the curtain closes, one must face the reality of kids, mortgage, bills and botty-burps. But, with Notting Hill lingering in your heart, you can face the harsh realities of death and taxes with a manic smile.