Movie Review: The Holiday

Nancy Meyers' film The Holiday is a fun and lighthearted flick about two women who trade houses for the holidays in an attempt to distract themselves from their broken hearts. Amanda, played by Cameron Diaz, has recently broken up with her live-in boyfriend, after finding out that he cheated with his secretary. Kate Winslet plays Iris, a journalist whose fluttering heart is chasing after an ex-boyfriend who is engaged to another woman. Iris lives in England and Amanda in California. While searching for vacation getaway spots, Amanda comes across Iris' house on an internet site where people swap houses. The two exchange emails and then exchange keys.

When Amanda (Diaz) arrives in London, she meets Iris' (Winslet) very attractive brother, Graham, played by Jude Law. The two get intimate quick and begin to fall in love. As their relationship develops, each of them becomes more in tune with their strengths and abilities. Each of them brings something to the relationship and the film identifies these things in a clever and inspiring way, drawing in the audience with the raw emotions. Meanwhile Iris, arriving in Los Angeles, meets and befriends an elderly man, Arthur, played by Eli Wallach. The two forge a friendship and she eventually escorts him to a big event in which he is honored. Their relationship seems to be one of the most genuine in the film. Also in their friendship circle is Miles. Miles is a film composer who knows Amanda and her ex-boyfriend. Not the typical Hollywood heartthrob, Jack Black portrays Miles and appeals to women with his sweet and sensitive nature. Perhaps part of it is that he struggles to keep his love alive with his careless girlfriend, whom he sends packing once he finds the strength to move on. When he and Winslet fall for each other, they make a perfect match. The nervous energy that surrounds them throughout their encounters creates a youthful reminder of how wonderful falling in love can be.