The Bottom Line
- Cute, fluffy piece of romantic comedy that goes down easy
- Diaz, Winslet, Law and Black do admirable jobs
- Even the dog's adorable
- The improbable circumstances test our ability to go with the flow
Description
- Starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, and Jude Law
- The Holiday marks Winslet's first starring role in a true romantic comedy
- Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some strong language
- Theatrical Release Date: December 8, 2006
Guide Review - "The Holiday" Movie Review
How do you get over a horrible relationship? Well, you can drown your sorrows in ice cream and hours of watching lousy television programs. Or, if you have the financial resources, you can do what the leading ladies of The Holiday do: exchange homes with someone you've never met who lives in a city far, far away from the man who killed your desire for romance.
Amanda (Cameron Diaz) lives in an exclusive neighborhood in Los Angeles and owns a hugely successful company that puts together trailers for movies. Iris (Kate Winslet) lives in a small community outside of London and works as a wedding columnist for the Daily Telegraph. Both ladies are fresh out of troubled relationships and heading into the holiday season without much to look forward to.
On impulse, workaholic Amanda decides to get away from it all. An online ad promoting house-swapping catches her eye and after exchanging instant messages with Iris, the two decide to really switch things up by swapping lives for a couple of weeks.
City dweller Amanda's not quite ready for the challenges facing her when she tries to settle into Iris' small country cottage. But Amanda soon finds life a bit more enjoyable when Iris' delicious brother, Graham (Jude Law), stops by to sleep off a night of drinking. Meanwhile Iris has found a couple of men to while away the time with in sunny California. A co-worker (Jack Black) of Amanda's ex catches her eye and turns out to be an engaging conversationalist who's fun to hang out with. She also befriends an elderly gentleman (Eli Wallach) who turns out to be an Academy Award-winning screenwriter.
To Sum It Up
The Holiday is a sweet romantic comedy featuring pretty people, pretty houses, and pretty decent acting. If you're ready for the cinematic equivalent of cotton candy, then The Holiday is just the sweet confection for you.
GRADE: B
