Happy Holidays to the planet's female population

Rating: 6/10 (10 December 2006)

Amanda (Cameron Diaz) is a high strung owner of a LA company that makes movie trailers. She has a nice looking live-in boyfriend but, alas, he cheats on her. And, it's almost Christmas. Meanwhile, in England, Iris, a journalist, learns that the man she has devoted herself to, for the last three years, is becoming engaged to someone else. Both of these gals need a holiday to recover from their losses. On the Internet, there is a website devoted to home swapping, as both Iris and Amanda discover. Getting off their respective continents sounds mighty good to these lovelorn gals. They do it. Amanda heads to England and Iris goes to the City of Angels. Unexpectedly, Amanda meets a good looking guy who happens to be Iris' brother Graham (Jude Law) while Iris runs into a nice composer named Miles (Jack Black). Neither lady is looking for romance, having been burned so recently. But, life is what happens when you are busy making other plans, no? This is a movie that will probably resonate with females more than with males, no doubt about it. If this seems unfair criticism, so be it. After all, is every female out there lining up to see Jackass II? We gals deserve a nice romcom, now and then and this year's movie entries have been pitifully few, in this category. All of the principal actors here do a very charming job, with Black a surprising choice as a love interest, a choice that works out nicely. There is plenty of nice dialogue, nice costumes, nice scenery, and nice situations. One inspired concoction is the "trailers" Amanda sees for her own life as it unfolds. At times, the whole affair seems just a touch forced but this does not really make the film unlovable. Women, do yourself a favor this holiday. Go treat yourself to a matinée of this pleasant film and visit the local tea shoppe afterwards, for a topper. This movie was made for ladies everywhere to cherish like a beautiful Christmas package, wrapped up in red and gold, and holding a surprising, but very welcome gift, inside.