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The Holiday (2006)

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5 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

‘If you liked “Love Actually”, you’ll love this!’ is the sort of quote that could easily adorn the poster of ‘The Holiday’, but of course that may not endear it to everyone. A leisurely feelgood rom-com from the director of ‘What Women Want’, it has a big-name ensemble cast and ticks all the transatlantic boxes. An American woman (Cameron Diaz) and a Brit (Kate Winslet) swap houses for Christmas, both smarting from break-ups. While one gets Jude Law knocking on the door of a quaint Surrey cottage, the other finds Jack Black buzzing at the Hollywood mansion gates.

The film itself is only gently amusing, often lacking comic timing and relying on Diaz’s trademark high-heeled pratfalls and Winslet’s lovelorn ‘Bridget Jones’-style routine too heavily. Some charming moments come courtesy of the friendship between Iris (Winslet) and an ageing LA screenwriter (Eli Wallach) – although this also gives rise to pointed movie references harking after a bygone era the film clearly wishes it belongs to. Modern cynicism has no place here: the script even makes a pre-emptive strike against criticisms when a happier Iris announces that she’s decided to embrace ‘corny’. The romances, however, are handled with more precision and realism, and Law’s performance is a surprising stand-out (in his first romantic comedy). The long running time pays off, allowing female audiences to vicariously date Law’s character – although whether that will blind all of them to the film’s laboured set-up is another question. The ‘Love Actually’ comparison should work as a useful barometer here.

Author: Anna Smith

Time Out London Issue 1894: December 6-13 2006

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User reviews of this film

John Cooper said...

Posted on Dec 25 2010 01:09 Sometimes we can do without `modern cynicism`, and
there's nothing wrong with a film being `gently amusing`.
This is a charming feel-good film which makes no apologies for itself . OK . . .so life isn't like this . . .
but . . . it's a rom-com .. . what do you expect ?
The Holiday is a charming film, well-acted with a nice score from Hans Zimmer, and for a couple of hours
the world seems a better place to live in . . . . Let
the Time Out Critics have their Citizen Kane or
Rachel Getting Married to name two of the most
pretentious films ever made . . . . . and which most
people have never seen . . . It's films lilke ` The Holiday` and Notting Hill` which get the punters into
the cinemas . . . .Time Out's condescending review is
irritating . . . .This film is classy entertainment with
a lot of heart, . . . . .recommended!

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kel said...

Posted on Mar 06 2009 14:44 Warm, Fuzzy Christmas Film. Great cast, except Jack Black a little miscast for this type of role!! still great!!

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jen said...

Posted on Dec 20 2007 12:43 First class feel good film for Christmas. Just the job for a cosy night in on the couch!

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Michaela said...

Posted on Dec 18 2007 15:49 This film is a fantastic chic flick. Having recorded it from Sky only yesterday I am now about to watch it for the 5th time. It's up there with Serendipity, definately recommend for the men to buy for their woman at Christmas..... Happy watching

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Paul said...

Posted on Jul 22 2007 17:23 Law delivers a line "I'm a man who sews, has a cow in the garden and reads cookery books in bed" - say no more.

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