Iris (Kate Winslet) is in love with a man who is about to marry another woman. Across the globe, Amanda (Cameron Diaz), realizes the man she lives with has been unfaithful. Two women, who have never met and live 6000 miles apart, meet online at a home exchange website and switch homes for the holiday. Iris moves into Amanda's L.A. house in sunny California as Amanda arrives in the snow covered English countryside. Shortly after arriving at their destinations, both women find a new romance. Amanda is charmed by Iris' handsome brother Graham (Jude Law) and Iris, with inspiration provided by legendary screenwriter, Arthur (Eli Wallach), mends her heart when she meets film composer Miles (Jack Black)...
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The charismatic cast is so charming that you'll probably enjoy the manipulation and overlook numerous flaws. Although Cameron Diaz sometimes overacts, Kate Swinlet successfully plays the role of a kind-hearted girl with an unrequited love for a man who is going to marry another woman. Jack Black is humorous and Jude Law's character is so lovely that most women would fall in love with him. At the end, most members of the audience would have a reluctant affection for all these characters and the cast indeed offsets the flawed storytelling.
It is not hard to find that most characters work in the film industry and the director wants to pay tributes to the people who are involved in making movies. However, I think Sleepless in Seattle is more successful in this connection.
If The Holiday weren't so long and the ending were more reasonable, I'd give it a more glowing recommendation. Despite this, I still recommend it to those who want to see a relaxing and heart-warming romantic comedy during this cold winter. You can get two somewhat touching romances for the price of one and it makes you glow, laugh and cry when you leave the theatre. I give it 3.5 stars out of 5.
Some Memorable Quotes from The Holiday: Amanda: You know Graham, I just broke up with someone and considering you just showed up and your insanely good-looking and probably won't remember me anyway... I'm thinking we should have sex... If you want Graham: Is that a trick question? Iris: It doesn't matter how many new haircuts you get, or gyms you join, or how many glasses of chardonnay you drink with your friends... you still go to bed every night going over every detail and wonder what you did wrong or how you could have misunderstood and how in the hell for that brief moment you could think that you were that happy. And sometimes you can even convince yourself that he'll see the light and show up at your door. And after all that, however long all that may be, you'll go somewhere new and you'll meet people who make you feel worthwhile again. And little peices of your soul will finally come back. And all that fuzzy stuff, those years of your life that you wasted... will eventually begin to fade. (I LOVE IT VERY MUCH) Iris: [switching her phoneline to Graham] I can't believe you went and had sex with that woman already! Amanda: Um, this is Amanda. Iris: Sorry! Hold on one second. [tries to divert the call again] Iris: I can't believe you had sex with that woman! She's only just arrived and you're already in her knickers! Amanda: [awkwardly] Still me. Arthur Abbott: Say a man and a woman both need something to sleep in and both go to the same men's pajama department. The man says to the salesman, "I just need bottoms," and the woman says, "I just need a top." They look at eachother and that's the "meet cue". Iris: You're supposed to be the leading lady in your own life, for God's Sake!
回覆刪除Maybe it just the "timing" problem, especially in X'mas. Or meybe I'm too old and not really enjoy that romantic as well, haha. BTW, I 've seen "Happy Birthday" and it's the contrast with "The Holiday". I prefer "Happy Birthday" becuase, at least it leave such a sorrow to me for a long time and gave out the message "不要愛得太遲"!
回覆刪除I prefer Sleepless in Seattle to The Holiday, but my friends and I think it is better than Love Actually. Anyway, it is entertaining, but it is surely not an original classic. Indeed, I am quite interested in the male version of The Holiday. What do males do when they break up with their girlfriends? Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle is really sexy when he expresses how he feels on the air. btw, I love the song in Happy Birthday very much... Is the movie worth 44 dollars? I am a bit worried about watching HK movies. (I love 心動 very much... are they silimar?)
回覆刪除um...as you say it can't be classic. You know it's not easy to be a Classics. I can't say it's worth ot not to pay because Rene Lau is one of my favourite actress and singer. She have this charisma. I'm addict to this sense of geift. I think the feeling is a little bit with "心動" & "玻璃之城", of course, not related to homosexual or political element as them. Hey, wait my review, hahaha.
回覆刪除Hey I like both 心動 and 玻璃之城.
回覆刪除Ken, you may be over-critical. Amanda is such a rich woman that she can re-locate herself to London anyway? She is a business-woman. She could not drop a tear since her parents separated because she was always predicting things bad to happen... In the beginning she always asked her bf whether he had an affair. Well, it is because she wanted him to have an affair. Okay she got it and she would not be sad lor. She cried for leaving Jude Law since she did expect something good to happen. She wanted to be happy. Expectation is always the source for sorrow. That is why she cried. I do not agree that the ending is unreasonable. She moved to London since she could probably be the stpemother. The greatest hurdle for her is whether the girls accepted Amanda, but not long distance problem.
回覆刪除While I was flying on Cathay Pacific on January 13 2007, I watched a latest movie "THE QUEEN". It's still not shown in Hongkong. It's an extraordinary movie, no matter whether you are a monarchist or a republicist. Quite inspiring to what happened 10 years ago.
回覆刪除Amanda is rich, but will she give up her career in LA? Besides, she ALWAYS emphasizes that her love with Jude will not last, even when they are on the bed and know they love each other. Although she is rich, she is rational too. She understands that long distance love hardly works. I mean... the change is too SUDDEN. That's why some critics find the plot flawed. Have a look at some reviews at Rottentomatoes if you have time. Some good reviews can be found there. The greatest hurdle for her is whether the girls accepted Amanda? BUT it is clear that his daughters love Amada. Remember what they did in the tent? WOW, I am looking forward to seeing The Queen!!!
回覆刪除Thanks for your support. I think this is a sugar-coated feel-good movie. You may easily understand how one of the female characters feels as you may probably have encountered what happen to these two female characters. Good for you to experience catharsis! Movies are powerful! I love this line very much. Iris: It doesn't matter how many new haircuts you get, or gyms you join, or how many glasses of chardonnay you drink with your friends... you still go to bed every night going over every detail and wonder what you did wrong or how you could have misunderstood and how in the hell for that brief moment you could think that you were that happy. And sometimes you can even convince yourself that he'll see the light and show up at your door. And after all that, however long all that may be, you'll go somewhere new and you'll meet people who make you feel worthwhile again. And little peices of your soul will finally come back. And all that fuzzy stuff, those years of ? ------------------------------------ Is that how you feel? WELCOME to visit my blog " Move Thee Reviews" ! http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/kenji-chan
回覆刪除Exactly, the girls did accept Amanda so Amanda is welcomed by this single-parented family. Amanda is a business woman and she is rich. She may relocate to London if she prefers. She has the professional and the fame. Just like Madonna who moved to England for her husband now. Amanda did forgo her hometown perhaps, but she may continue her career anyway?
回覆刪除Everything is possible, but the storytelling is flawed. The change should not be so sudden. Amanda is described as a rational girl in the movie, always emphasizing that long distance love does not work. That's the area in which the movie can improve and perhaps the director should explain very briefly how Amanda copes with the long distance love problem at the end.
回覆刪除i think "The Holiday" is more for us to enjoy than serious review. It's a kind of movie that makes ppl feel heartwarming and sweet, especially for those who r not very happy in their own love stories! After all, it's just a fairy tale.
回覆刪除Hi.This is my first time here and it seems gathering with a certain amount of movie lovers as well. Great to meet you all. Hope we can exchange our opinion here also. BTW, have you watched The Perfume?
回覆刪除Thanks very much for your support. I hope more movie lovers can discuss movies here from different perspectives. I believe movies can be studied subjectively and objectively. I hope people don't mind reading in English as my Chinese is not very good. Come here if you have time!
回覆刪除Jack Black正在走運, 佢仲正過Jude Law!!! (雖然大部份女觀眾唔會同意! )
回覆刪除hahaha... I like both of them!
回覆刪除又係睇Jude Law，基本上好多佢拍嘅戲都係因為睇佢至睇，反而呢套真係唔錯，我係佢一出碟就即刻買，唔入戲院咪又係因為睇唔切lor!!!買咗之後當晚係即睇，基本上淨係佢d戲我唔會留隔夜，一定係即買即睇!!!
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