The Holiday

My movie for Christmas 2020. Down in a Deep Internet Rabbit hole, I happened across an interview that Stephen Colbert had with Kate Winslet. Colbert mention this film as a great Holiday movie even though it had almost nothing to do with Christmas. I scheduled it up for viewing on Christmas day.I got two romantic comedies tales for the price of one ($2.99 on Amazon Prime). Aside from immediately creating in my mind the question, whatever happened to Carmen Diaz, one of our damsels in distress, I got sucked into the creativity of the writers when they contrived a house swap between Diaz and her equally lovestruck counterpart in Britian, Kate Winslet. We find Diaz's Character Amanda, who owns a company that develops film trailers, living in the proverbial lap of luxury with her home on Sunset Boulevard and her money driven life style, is in a terrible long term relationship with her boyfriend, Ethan, who is played by Edward Burns. I now there are going ot be women out there that are going to think how can any relationship with Edward Burns be bad, but trust me he sells it.Amanda turns to the internet to find a place where she can just get away. She discovers a charming cottage in England and sends an inquiry. Iris is home brooding over her love interests announcement of his engagement to one of her co-workers. Iris is a reporter for a newspaper and gets the Christmas assignment to write about the couples wedding announcement. She in turn wants to get away.Iris messages Amanda that the cottage is only available by house swap. Amanda agrees they both travel to the others home and the adventures begin.Notable in this film are the many cameo appearances besides Edward Burns, the touching sub plot built around character played by Eli Wallach and what may have been a breakout role by Jack Black. Fair warning. If your going to tell two stories, you need twice the time. In this case, the running time is two hour and fifteen minutes. Oh yeah, there will be cute kids and dogs.

Best holiday roantic movie ever!

Best romance story ever.

The sweetness of this movie is what I love but the comedy is good as well. Kate Winslet’s performance is great, I get slightly annoyed at Cameron Dias’ whining and her unsuccessful attempts to make herself cry but my enjoyment of her mid 2000’s wardrobe and her cuteness makes up for it. I’m always like, look how many coats and boots she packed for this trip to England! How did she fit it all?! I fall in love with Jude Law every time. The way he looks at Cameron makes me melt, and Jack Black always cracks me up. The relationship between Kate and the old man next door is the sweetest thing ever. And the little girls with English accents, cutest thing ever! The movie is truly heartwarming. Though there are big red flags for me in both romances, I am willing to suspend disbelief that these romances aren’t just going to fall apart before Valentine’s Day. The scenery is great in both LA and England. Great vibes! Also fun that Hanukkah gets a shout out too!

The actors in this movie were perfectly cast. I honestly feel that this is one of the best movies of all time and I enjoy greatly each of the lead actors performances. If you still haven’t seen this movie then what are you waiting for! Five stars all the way.

I love this movie and have it on both DVD and now on Amazon to make sure I can watch it wherever I go over the holiday season. It's funny and sappy and will make you cry but you walk away from the film feeling healed. My fiance wasn't super excited to watch it with me but he loved it too in the end. The soundtrack is also amazing and every story is both compelling, relatable, and well told by the actors and setting. This movie made me want to move to a small cottage in England even more than I already wanted to do that. Must watch.

Two women—Cameron Diaz, a high-strung Hollywood trailer editor, and Kate Winslet, a chronically heartbroken journalist—decide to swap homes for the holidays in a desperate attempt to escape their messy love lives. Because, you know, randomly trading houses with a stranger in another country is totally how normal people solve their problems.Cue the rom-com magic: Cameron Diaz ends up in a quaint English cottage, where she meets Jude Law, a walking Hallmark card in human form. Meanwhile, Kate Winslet settles into a luxurious L.A. mansion and befriends Jack Black, somehow the most charming and lovable man in existence.Over two weeks, they fall madly in love, rediscover their self-worth, and wear a stunning array of cozy sweaters. There are grand romantic gestures, quirky side characters, and just enough holiday cheer to make you believe that maybe, just maybe, true love can be found through completely impractical life choices.Final Verdict:The Holiday is the quintessential rom-com because it has unrealistic romance, emotionally unavailable leads who magically become available, and Jude Law looking like a literal Christmas miracle. 10/10, would house-swap with a stranger if it meant finding love and a better real estate deal.

Love this movie. It is so entertaining.