"The Holiday" (Sony Pictures)
The Feel Good Movie of the Season
Every holiday season needs at least one truly feel good film, and this year it is "The Holiday." Director Nancy Meyers gave us "Something’s Gotta Give" a few year’s back as well as "What Women Want." She continues her string of hits with "The Holiday," a warm-hearted look at heartbreak and recovery.
In the film two women have similar problems. Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) are both highly successful women but they can’t find a good man. Both are involved with losers. Iris is in love with Jasper (Rufus Sewell) who professes to love her but then gets engaged to someone else. Amanda has been in a long term relationship with Ethan (Edward Burns) but discovers he has been unfaithful to her. So both women are in a sorry state.
They happen upon each other over the Internet and decide to swap homes for two weeks over the Christmas holidays. Iris moves into Amanda’s LA mansion while Amanda beds down in Iris’ cottage in England.
While in their "new" homes both women meet new men. Amanda opens the door to Graham (Jude Law), who she learns is Iris’ brother; Iris gets visited by Miles (Jack Black) who works with Ethan. These new relationships open up the possibility of a happily ever after ending.
Added in to this mix is a subplot concerning a ninety year old writer who lives next door to Amanda’s house. Arthur Abbott (Eli Wallach) fascinates Iris ands she befriends him. He has given up on life but she won’t give up on him. Though they are decades apart in years, they are soul-mates in a special way.
All of the actors are at their very best in this movie. Winslet has never been so warm and watchable; Diaz is zany and fun-loving. Of course both are totally beautiful. Jude Law has never been so handsome and likable in any other movie, and who knew Jack Black could be a believable leading man! Finally Eli Wallach still has what it takes to create a full character on screen.
The film is rated PG-13 for profanity and sexual situations.
"The Holiday" is a welcome holiday from all the doom and gloom movies we have been subjected to lately. It isn’t heavy in any sense. Instead it is just heavenly in its story and treatment. Okay, maybe it could be called a "chick flick" but that just means it has heart, hope, and humor. I guarantee it will send you out of the theater feeling better than you have in a while.
Every holiday season needs a "feel good" movie. So give yourself a Christmas treat and go see "The Holiday." It will leave you with a smile on your face and a lump in your throat – of the good kind. Call it a "chick flick," a romantic comedy, or whatever. Just make sure you don’t miss it!
I scored "The Holiday" a celebrational 8 out of 10.
