The Holiday teams up Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Jack Black for a trans-Atlantic Christmas romance. Will it make you swoon like mistletoe or is it more saccharine than a candy cane? We take a look!
The Holiday - It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Things kick off to a depressing start in this yuletide chick flick. Amanda (Cameron Diaz) kicks her cheating BF out of the house and Iris (Kate Winslet) dissolves into a puddle of tears when she finds out that the ex she's still in love with is engaged to someone else. Bah humbug! When these two unlucky-in-love ladies meet online, they agree to escape their woes by trading houses for two weeks over Christmas. In less than 24 hours, Iris is in Amanda's palatial LA pad and Amanda is snuggled in at Iris' charming English cottage.
The Holiday - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Things are beginning to look up for our two lovelorn ladies. Amanda has jumped quickly into a reckless love affair with Iris' womanizing brother (Jude Law) and Amanda has made friends with an aging Hollywood screenwriter and a sweet-but-attached music composer (Jack Black).
The Holiday - Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Things aren't always as they seem in The Holiday. Fate is as unpredictable as the California wind or British dental care - the "womanizer" might just be a family man, and the cute-but-taken guy might not always stay that way. As Iris and Amanda let go of their respective emotional baggage, they learn to make room for new people. And isn't that the best Christmas present there is?
The Holiday - DVD Features
It may be a little hard to get back into the Christmas spirit in March, but the DVD for The Holiday is now available to rent or own. It comes with very few extras, with some commentary from the director and a featurette about how the movie was made being the only features available to check out. Maybe put this on your list for the next holiday season cuz its bound to lose some of its charm if you watch it in the spring.
The Holiday - The Bottom Line
The Holiday is a feel-good chick flick that will get you in the yuletide spirit faster than a tall glass of eggnog. It's perfect for a post-shopping night out with the girls or even as a date movie. The chemistry between the two couples is a little weak but Jude Law has enough chemistry of his own to keep the whole movie afloat. If you ignore the odd plot hole and the over-the-top product placement, you're in for a pleasant holiday flick.
