The Holiday is a delight!!

Rating: 7/10 (3 November 2013)

Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) and Amanda Woodward (Cameron Diaz) have one thing in common in this romantic comedy directed by Nancy Meyers; they both need to get of town due to romantic complications created from the men in their life. Iris has been in love with a co-worker for the past three years only to find out he is engaged to be married to someone else. If that was not worse enough he will not stop reaching out to her. Amanda has just found out her live in boyfriend is cheating on her with his assistant and decides to kick him out. Both find themselves feeling alone right before Christmas in need of an escape. When they find each other on a home exchange site it seems perfect. Amanda soon finds herself in a complicated situation with Iris brother Graham (Jude Law) and Iris meets a 90 year old man and Miles (Jack Black) who both help her find confidence in herself.
The theme of the movie is feeling alive and finding happiness in unexpected places. Both Iris and Amanda have been living their life in slow motion and the movie shows how they grow into their own as it progresses. Iris finds that LA is just what she needed and Amanda finds something truly amazing in England bringing a change in herself that she did not know was possible any longer. Iris finds the truth in herself and the ability to move past her previous complications through her interaction with her neighbor. Amanda finds that maybe she is not as distant a person as she had previously thought and has the ability to become something more to both herself and someone else.
The movie is similar too It's Complicated another Nancy Meyers movie with Meryl Streep. Both movies have a character that has been scorned by love previously and is trying to move on with their lives and find joy in to begin life again. It is important in both movies that the characters be recognized in the beginning for the past that has led them to where they are moving towards for the duration of the film.
The movie has a great use of both lighting and sound. It finds a way to introduce the lighting when Amanda is first in Iris home by herself by using the darkness and shadows to reflect the true feeling of being alone. The lighting is also showcased when Iris is in Amanda homes for the first time and a huge ray of light is brought in as if here she may find the hope that has been lost. The sound is terrific in playing music that fits the mood of the film. The high and low points have a mix of music that is both recognizable and meaningful during the moments of climax for the film.
The movie may have had lags in trying to move towards the ending of the film, but all in all the idea that making sure we are living our lives and finding joy were made dominant. It is by taking chances and opening ourselves help that true happiness can be found when least expected.