This romantic comedy ends up feeling soggy, syrupy and so bloating it'll put you to sleep before the pudding's done.
The Holiday (2006)
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Reviews Counted:130
Fresh:60
Rotten:70
Average Rating:5.5/10
Consensus: The Holiday, while sweet and somewhat touching, lacks any surprises and eventually overstays its welcome.
Rated: 12A [See Full Rating] for sexual content and some strong language
Runtime: 2 hrs 18 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:08-12-2006
Synopsis: Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz), the owner of a prospering advertising firm that creates movie trailers, lives in Southern California. Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) writes the popular wedding column for... Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz), the owner of a prospering advertising firm that creates movie trailers, lives in Southern California. Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) writes the popular wedding column for London's Daily Telegraph and resides in a charming cottage in the English countryside. Though Iris and Amanda live 6,000 miles apart, they are in exactly the same place: Just before Christmas, Iris and Amanda decide to take a needed break from the men in their lives (played by Edward Burns and Rufus Sewell) — and neither is much in the mood for a nostalgic chorus of "Auld Lang Syne." Amanda, wanting to get out of town for the holidays, stumbles onto an internet site that specializes in home exchanges, and finds Iris' English cottage to be the perfect antidote to her troubles. On impulse, Amanda and Iris agree to crisscross continents and move into each other's homes for two weeks. Iris lands in Los Angeles on a spectacularly clear day warmed by the gusts of the seasonal Santa Ana winds. Not long after she arrives at Amanda's Brentwood home, she is befriended by Arthur (Eli Wallach), a noted screenwriter from Hollywood's Golden Era, and Miles (Jack Black), a film composer who works with Amanda's ex-boyfriend. In England, where it is anything but balmy, Amanda is just settling into the cozy solitude of the snow-covered Rose Hill Cottage, when Iris' handsome brother Graham (Jude Law) comes knocking at the cottage door. In an unexpected turn of events, both women discover that the best trips are the ones where you leave your baggage behind. Columbia Pictures and Universal Pictures Present in association with Relativity Media, A Waverly Films Production, The Holiday starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Eli Wallach, Edward Burns and Rufus Sewell. The film is written and directed by Nancy Meyers. The producers are Nancy Meyers and Bruce A. Block and the executive producer is Suzanne Farwell. The director of photography is Dean Cundey ASC. The production designer is Jon Hutman. The film is edited by Joe Hutshing, A.C.E. The costume designer is Marlene Stewart. The music is by Hans Zimmer. The Holiday has been rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for Sexual Content and Some Strong Language. The Holiday will be released by Columbia Pictures on December 8, 2006. -- © Columbia Pictures [More]
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Eli Wallach, Rufus Sewell, Edward Burns, Shannyn Sossamon, John Krasinski
Director: Nancy Meyers
Director: Nancy Meyers
Screenwriter: Nancy Meyers
Producer: Nancy Meyers, Bruce A. Block
Composer: Hans Zimmer
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Reviews for The Holiday
No amount of ironic gift wrapping can conceal the triteness within, in this double-plotted festive chick flick that is too long by half, and too cloyingly sweet to be healthy.
There is bound to be a large appreciative audience for this chick flick. But it might not be you.
The Holiday's redeeming feature (and it's a considerable one) is the 91-year-old Eli Wallach's astute and endearing performance.
Exists in that fantasy Nancy Meyers universe in which a bunch of attractive, wealthy people talk cutely and smartly to each other and find love in all the right places
Watchable, but overly long and ultimately disappointing romcom, despite spirited performances and the occasional sparkly moment.
a warm, charming, extremely clever and often hilarious romantic comedy that will be a sure-fire date movie for any guy looking to please his significant other
If you're ready for the cinematic equivalent of cotton candy, then The Holiday is just the sweet confection for you.
Characters in "The Holiday" kiss like reasonable people and don't get into silly arguments that artificially jeopardize their love lives.
It can also be undeniably charming, so you may as well just check your cynicism at the door and surrender.
There's nothing authentic or personal about The Holiday -- it's as chilling as heart-warmers get.
About as far removed from burning your bra as you can get. Too much of this chick flick feels like work, with the unfortunately long running time sandbagging it with a kind of cinematic jet lag.
Despite the honeyed charms of its female leads, the 138-minute Holiday wears out its welcome ... When Diaz meets Law's cloyingly adorable two girls, it's like choking to death on a saccharine candy cane.
The Holiday is a drippily sentimental and contrived movie that ladles on the treacle with a particularly heavy hand and strands some good actors -- and not so good ones -- along the way.
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