Not A Holiday I'd Want To Take

Rating: Null/10 (22 July 2011)

I usually find romantic comedies to be really cliché, unfunny, and have horrible acting.
With the exception of Kate Winslet, Eli Wallach, and maybe a couple of others, "The Holiday" is no different. The story follows two women switching homes in different countries for Christmas vacation, and when they leave, their lives are totally changed. Just like that. With no evidence of any real character development or changes (except on Winslet's end). Very realistic, Nancy Meyers.
As a person who has been playing the piano for over 10 years, it frustrated me that Jack Black's fingers were on the wrong keys when composing! It's like that epic fail of Freddie Highmore's "conducting" in "August Rush". Have some musical consistency, people!
Winslet as the pathetic, emotionally broken, but kind Iris Simpkins was nothing short of dead on. You find her so pathetic and so self-loathing that you do feel immensely sorry for her. Considering this was her first time in a romantic comedy, I applaud her for being able to contribute as much as she did. I found her to be quite charming once she got out of the depression.
I found the plot line to be very surface-y, and Meyers could have done so much more with Graham's life circumstances and Amanda's inner pain as well. Instead, it just barely scratches the surface and it leaves you thinking "why the heck didn't you elaborate on this more?"
Cameron Diaz as Amanda....let's just not relive too much of that. It was painfully similar acting to some of her other characters before (more like, in every romantic comedy she's ever been in) which isn't necessarily good acting. She is flat and over the top in the wrong places and there's no build up to those points either! Her chemistry with Jude Law is..eh. Not terrific, but not completely horrible either. They barely pass as a couple, for me. I also don't like that Cameron Diaz got more camera time than Kate Winslet--Kate Winslet is far better, and her character's story was much more interesting.
Kate Winslet and Jack Black have absolutely no romantic chemistry whatsoever! They can pass as really great friends, but that's about it. I know that some people found Jack Black dead in his role, but I actually found it refreshing that he was portraying someone a little more down-to-earth. I definitely feel that their story deserved more screen time, especially with the brilliant Eli Wallach's secondary character! So witty, direct, and delightful as Arthur Abbott.
There's only so much I can write since the maximum is 1,000 words, but in short, "The Holiday" is another one of your typical romantic comedies: bad writing and barely there acting.