A "chick flick" for sure, with some cool movie references

Rating: Null/10 (19 December 2013)

As a guy, I found THE HOLIDAY (2006) to be a little too girly, which is understandable since the film was written and directed by a woman and primarily deals with two women trying to sort out their personal troubles. It's not my cup of tea and I get that. Still, I'd say the movie's pretty good for what it is. If you're looking for a romantic "chick flick" to watch around Christmastime, you've found it.
Kate Winslet, an English journalist, and Cameron Diaz, a Hollywood movie trailer editor, decide to swap houses for two weeks during the Christmas holiday. Winslet needs to get over an unrequited love and Diaz needs time alone after a breakup. Winslet is like a kid in a candy store in sunny Los Angeles, while Diaz takes more time adjusting to the quiet country life in snowy Surrey, England.
The most sympathetic character for me was Kate Winslet, who gives a winning performance. She plays the comedy well in her early "sad sack" scenes and later becomes a beacon of positivity and joy. Cameron Diaz is Cameron Diaz, I'm just not really a fan. I liked the gimmick where Diaz sees/hears her life as if it were one of her movie trailers. Jude Law is pretty good as Winslet's brother, who meets Diaz unexpectedly in Surrey. Jack Black dials it down a bit as the lovable nice guy Winslet meets in America.
What I will say is that I love old black and white films. I caught THE HOLIDAY on Turner Classic Movies, of all places, and enjoyed the various shout-outs to classic Hollywood. Eli Wallach plays Cameron Diaz's Hollywood neighbor, an ancient screenwriter who befriends Kate Winslet during her stay in L.A. He reminisces about the old days and gives Winslet a list of classic films to check out. We never see the list, but it seems to contain some great screwball comedies including HIS GIRL_FRIDAY (1940) and THE LADY EVE (1941), as well as some Irene Dunne movies (perhaps THEODORA GOES WILD (1936) or my favorite THE AWFUL TRUTH (1937)).
It's great to see Eli Wallach (BABY DOLL (1956), THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (1966)) still doing stuff. He looks about a hundred years old in THE HOLIDAY, but was really only around ninety. His character's connection with Old Hollywood was a pleasant surprise for me and is probably part of the reason this recent film made it onto TCM's schedule.
Jack Black plays a score composer and there's a cool scene in a Blockbuster store where he singles out various films with memorable music scores (CHARIOTS OF FIRE, DRIVING MISS DAISY, GONE WITH THE WIND, JAWS, THE GRADUATE, etc.). As a movie buff I always appreciate nods to the classics and hope they expose modern viewers to some oldies but goodies.