my life//in medias res*

An “okay” Holiday

December 14th, 2006 at 8:16 pm by sillyjoe (The Movie Corner)

I went to see The Holiday the other night with a friend of mine. It’s the latest from writer/director/producer Nancy Meyers (What Women Want, Something’s Gotta Give). So, take a look at the list of Meyer’s movies, and you’re fairly positive that you’re in for a romantic comedy, or, dare I say, a chick flick, right? Well, you’d be correct in that assumption. This is a TEXTBOOK romantic comedy. Almost too textbook. A lot of the scenes are either homages to past romantic comedies, or ripoffs…I’m hoping for the former, because this is a movie I want to like (read Richard Roeper’s review of the film to find out specifics on the ripoffness). There are two stories told in the movie, that just happen to have the same beginning and end. They branch off on their own, however, when Brit girl Iris (Kate Winslet) and Hollywood movie trailer producer Amanda (Cameron Diaz) switch houses for the holiday. The two stories that follow are the romance that unfolds between Amanda and Iris’s brother Graham (Jude Law) in England, and Iris’s relationships formed with her older neighbor Arthur Abbot (Eli Wallach, easily the best performance in the movie) and Miles (Jack Black), Amanda’s recent ex’s movie composer friend. The latter story is much more interesting, more realistic, and more engaging and entertaining than the first, and this is the movie’s downfall, as Amanda/Graham’s story seems to take away from the interaction between Iris/Arthur/Miles and eventual Iris/Miles romance. I wanted to slap Cameron Diaz in the face during much of this movie. I found her character to be annoying. I feel like we’re supposed to identify with her and feel for her as we watch the movie, but I was just annoyed. I felt sorry for Jude Law’s Graham, as he was a much more interesting character to watch…and much easier to get involved in. On the other side of the pond, in Los Angeles, Iris meets Arthur and Miles, and a wonderful story unfolds. Arthur, a famous screenwriter from way back in the day, is asked to come to a ceremony in honor of his work, but he doesn’t want to attend unless he can walk across the stage freely. Iris proceeds to train him…getting him away from his walker, and eventually his cane, so that he can walk around freely. Iris and Miles strike up a friendship, and hang out regularly, renting movies that Arthur has suggested, and having Christmas Eve dinner together after having been jilted by their loves. What we see is a much more realistic romance than the compulsive match of Amanda and Graham. Miles and Iris start as friends, but the attraction is undeniable. He finally asks her out on a date before the movie ends.

Honestly, this was a decent movie. It was cute, and women from everywhere will be flocking to Nancy Meyer’s latest. I, however, only wish that more time could’ve been spent with Iris, Miles, and Arthur, here in America. They were a charming trio, one that I would’ve liked to hang out with and here tales about old Hollywood.

As a last note, this movie further solidifies the fact that I am in love with Kate Winslet.

Good night, and good luck.