The Holiday
Tags: comedy, romantic

Plot synopsis:
Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet), a society column editor for The Daily Telegraph in London, has been in love with Jasper Bloom (Rufus Sewell) for over three years, despite his infidelities. When she finds out that he is engaged to the "other woman," Iris begins despairing over the state of affairs in her life. Meanwhile, Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz), a workaholic who owns a company that produces movie trailers in Los Angeles, discovers that her live-in boyfriend Ethan Ebbers (Edward Burns) has cheated on her with his 24-year-old secretary. She decides she wants to get away for the holidays. She visits a home swap website on which Iris had previously listed her "quaint cottage in Surrey. Amanda contacts Iris about her interest. Iris quickly agrees and the two agree to swap homes for two weeks.Iris revels in the luxury of Amanda's Los Angeles home, while Amanda is disappointed by the slower, quieter pace of life in Surrey. Amanda grows bored after just a few hours, and books a flight back for the next day. Later that night, Iris brother Graham (Jude Law) knocks at the door assuming Iris is home. Graham asks Amanda to let him spend the night despite the fact that he is a stranger, as he has been drinking at the pub and doesn't want to drive. They end up sleeping together.In the morning, Graham receives a number of phone calls from Sophie and Olivia, which rouses the suspicions of Amanda that Graham is a womanizer. Graham, knowing that Amanda is leaving to return home, says to Amanda that "if the flight gets cancelled, [he is] having dinner at the pub" with friends. At the airport Amanda decides to stay and goes to the pub. Graham enters the pub and looks for her but cannot see her until he meets his friends and then sees Amanda. Amanda drinks far too much that night. Graham suggests they go to lunch to get to know one another better. During lunch, Amanda shares with Graham that her parents divorced when she was fifteen and since then she has been unable to cry. Graham responds that he cries all the time: movies, books, sad stories, etc. While obviously enjoying each other's company, Amanda is worried that the relationship will become "complicated," and tries to keep Graham at arm's length.Meanwhile, Iris is enjoying the stay at Amanda's house. She meets Ethan's friend Miles (Jack Black) when he comes with his girlfriend Maggie (Shannyn Sossamon) to Amanda's house. Later, she finds an old man, Arthur Abbott (Eli Wallach) standing lost at the corner, and she escorts him home. She learns that he was a script writer during the Golden Age of Hollywood. The two become fast friends. Arthur notes that Iris' behavior toward Jasper does not match her strong personality, and he suggests movies for her to watch that include strong female characters, in hopes that she can acquire what he calls "gumption."Amanda chooses not to see Graham again but once alone in the house she has a change of heart and surprises Graham at his house. He looks extremely nervous at the door, Amanda asks Graham whether he is alone, and he says he isn't. Before she can turn away, Olivia and Sophie come to the door, revealing that they are Graham's young daughters. Amanda is shocked and asks Graham in a whisper if he is married. He says no, because his wife died two years ago. Amanda asks him why he did not reveal the existence of his daughters to her during their sharing at lunch. Graham explains that he doesn't usually tell women about them because he doesn't know how to date and be a dad. Amanda fits in beautifully, making Graham reconsider his decision to keep their relationship strictly casual.Iris finds out that the Screenwriters' Guild wants to throw a grand celebration in Arthur's honor, but he is reluctant to go for several reasons, chief among them being that he cannot walk without the assistance of his walker, and does not want to embarrass himself. Iris encourages him to go because it's a real honor, and promises to help him prepare to attend the award function with her. She undertakes an exercise program with him, determined to help him walk without his walker. During these days Jasper contacts her several times to get her to help with the book he is writing. She agrees to look over his pages, but ends up being so busy that she doesn't have time.Iris and Miles have slowly become friends, and one night go to the video store to rent some movies that Arthur had recommended. Miles sings his favorite songs from movies while he is holding the DVDs in his hand. He holds up a copy of 'The Graduate' and goes, "Uh oh...Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? - I bet you didn't know, it was all written for the movie, it was a score, technically." We see Dustin Hoffman looking at DVDs and saying, "I can't believe this... I can't go anywhere!"From the video store, Miles sees his girlfriend Maggie in the arms of another guy. He is shocked, as she told him that she would be in Santa Fe on an extended film shoot and would not be in L.A. for this Christmas Eve. He runs out of the store to find out the truth and realizes that she has betrayed him. Iris and Miles return to Amanda's house, where they discuss their tendencies to fall for people that they know are wrong for them, and they grow closer for it. They are now both single, and begin to spend more time together. But one day while Miles and Iris are eating lunch together, Maggie calls Miles and wants to see him. Miles leaves to see her, but promises to come to Arthur's award ceremony that night. Iris goes back to Amanda's, where she is shocked to find Jasper. Iris is touched at first, but then asks if he is still engaged. When he responds that he is, she finally breaks up with him for good. Meanwhile, Maggie tries in vain to convince Miles to forgive her. He realizes that Maggie was never meant for him and he can never trust her anymore. He breaks up with her and rushes to attend Arthurs award ceremony.Iris and Arthur arrive at the ceremony and are very surprised to find the hall filled with people all standing and applauding his achievements. That, plus the song that Miles wrote especially for Arthur for this moment, gives him the confidence to walk onto the stage unassisted. Miles arrives and asks Iris for a date on New Year's Eve. Iris responds that she will be back in London by then; Miles replies "I have never been to London." Iris responds that she would love to spend the evening with Miles. Meanwhile, Graham confesses his love for Amanda on the night before she is scheduled to depart. Amanda insists it is over, she is certain a long-distance relationship will never work. On her way to the airport, she cries for the first time since she was fifteen years old, and returns to the house to find Graham crying. Amanda tells him that she has decided to stay until New Year's Eve with him. Iris and Miles celebrate the New Year with Amanda and Graham and his daughters, enjoying the evening laughing and dancing together.

Review: Jude Law is another than I don't remember when was the last time he was this charming and Jack Black manages to keep it real and I was taken for a ride, going along, falling happily in Nancy Meyer's lovely trap.
Kate Winslet as Iris, a successful writer on The Telegraph, is more nuanced: an actor with considerable range, we cannot but help admire the way she does 'pathetic girl' rather beautifully in a role that she could manage with one hand counting the ways to have fun and get paid simultaneously.Formulaic it is (wonderful women with scoundrelly fellas eventually get The Real Men They Deserve - meeting puppy dogs, children, and falling snowflakes on the way of course).
There are points where the movie is a little slow, but not slow enough to loose your interest.All of the characters are wonderfully developed especially Jude Laws-the under-story of Jude's character adds an extra dimension to his character and really makes you love him all the more.Kate Winslet's character is another that was well worked out.
Romance is in the air and sparks are about to fly.(My Comment) If you want to see a romantic comedy with real chemistry, especially between Cameron Diaz and Jude Law this is one chick flick you must see.
I think this film deserves a better rating than the current 6.9 on IMDb. I to expected it to be just like other rom com's but it was much better than i expected and very enjoyable.The story starts with Amanda (Cameron Diaz) and Iris (Kate Winslet) fed up with their love lives; Amanda's boyfriend has been cheating on her and the man Iris loves has just got engaged to someone else.
They both decide to switch houses for Christmas for an escape from their complicated lives; so Iris jets off to Amanda's place in sunny L.A and Amanda goes to Iris' quaint cottage in snowy Surrey, England (if only it really did snow at Christmas!) Amanda soon meets Iris' handsome brother Graham (Brilliantly played by Jude Law) and Iris meets musician Miles (Jack Black) and you can guess the rest...The acting is strong and well handled.
At first i found Cameron Diaz hugely annoying but as it went on i warmed to her character; she and Jude had lots of chemistry and their relationship was handled well and Graham's secret was a good twist.I thought Jack Black was great in this different role, he and Kate also had chemistry and he was totally believable.
I wish their storyline had been a bit longer though as they spent way more time on Cameron and Jude's part.Kate Winslet as usual was funny and touching as Iris and maybe one of the best parts of the film was her relationship with the old man (Eli Wallach) they both seemed to have a connection and it was nice to hear his stories of when he was a writer in the good old Hollywood days when he knew Cary Grant and co!
Meanwhile in Hollywood Iris is getting to know Miles (Jack Black), a workmate of Amanda's, and a 90 year old neighbour, Arthur (Eli Wallach) who happens to be one of Hollywood's forgotten great writers.One can of course dismiss this sort of stuff as glossy fairy floss because basically, despite all the money and talent expended in making it, that is what it is - "Love, Improbable." This film is rather long for its genre, over two hours, and it does drag a bit, as if the scriptwriters couldn't decide how to end it.
Let's demand that Hollywood hire people who can write."The Holiday"'s cast is top notch, except for the terminally mediocre Jack Black, whose entire film career is some sort of cosmic joke.The very best thing about "The Holiday" is Eli Wallach's relatively large part as a great writer from Hollywood's Golden Era. Wallach is especially strong; being ninety years old does not diminish his charisma one whit.It's ironic that a movie with such a disaster of a script features a character playing a classic Hollywood writer, who makes repeated reference to well-written chick flicks from yesteryear.Jude Law is very winning here.
Indeed most failed movies go back as far as script or storyline calibre; but not as far as the initial premise which, in this case is okay if not a little familiar to Hollywood punters.However the main thing you'll find is you don't care for the plight of the characters because they're badly drawn, do unrealistic things and we see neither enough of their back-story or their relationships developing with each other.I'm a real fan of the cast; top actors such as Law and Winslet, a great comedian in Black and, when well cast, a huge talent in Diaz.
Meanwhile Iris meet her next door neighbor, the ninety year old screenplay writer Arthur (Eli Wallach), who helps her to retrieve her self-esteem, and the film composer Miles (Jack Black), and they fall in love for each other."The Holiday" is a charming and delightful homage to love, and also to the romantic movies of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
While this movie is not going to be a masterpiece and held up in the future as an example of "great" film making, it was, in my opinion, a well made, albeit predictable, movie.I did appreciate the storyline was a bit of a formula, but it had enough in the sub plots to keep me interested all the way through.I got what I expected and a little more from the lead characters, but was a little disappointed in the performance of Jack Black.
I took a date to see this film and halfway through it she turned to me and said 'This is torture for you, is it not?' I replied 'Yes, especially Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet trying too hard to be funny and only making me more depressed.' There's a nauseating bit where Diaz's Amanda puts on The Killers' Hot Fuse album and dances her head off to the great band's Mr Brightside while slugging from a bottle of beer.
After arriving in England, Amanda finds herself falling in love with Iris's brother Graham (Jude Law) and Iris at Amanda's place, bonds with an old screenwriter veteran (the magnificent Eli Wallach) and slowly, SLOWLY falls for film composer and Amanda's work colleague Miles (Jack Black, on autopilot).This is one of those films that tries too hard to make you feel good and warm inside, like the Al Pacino film Frankie and Johnny.
If the extraordinary cynicism of its religious adherence to every immoral and unethical strand of formula-Hollywood drek in here isn't bad enough: if the fact that the script that could have been written by a 12 year old dewy-eyed girl weaned and educated on every piece of schlock Disney every produced, or some kind of parodist with nothing better to do, but was apparently written by an adult isn't bad enough; if the torrent of clichés isn't bad enough - including the intensely vomit-inducing, utterly laughable inclusion of olde-tyme Golden Age of Hollywood writer winning a lifetime achievement award scene - AND CAN I TELL ANY American READING THIS THAT IT HASN'T SNOWED IN THE COUNTY OF SURREY BEFORE AND AROUND Christmas FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS?; if the complete lack of verisimilitude to real life, like the fact that women of thirty-odd don't make love in bra-tops, isn't bad enough; if the fact that Jude Law's character begins as a woman-a-night beer-slugging rogue then by half way becomes a winsomely sincere widowed single Dad who adores his two girls (and one is called 'Miffy' in real life: for God's sake, what next?!)isn't bad enough; if the fact that Cameron Diaz's 'performance' was the most embarrassing I've ever seen isn't bad enough; if the woolly mammoth-esquire touch of the miserable, shoddy direction isn't bad enough; if the fact that the studio thinks this pathetic nonsense is so good they let it stretch on for over two hours isn't bad enough, then the fact that these film-makers actually gave this evil monster of a movie pretensions to intelligence and relationship-profundity most certainly is.I was going to say that The Holiday is an insult to anyone who ever went to school and earned a single GCSE pass or a 25-metre swimming certificate, until I logged on here and found that people presumably over the age of 12 actually liked it.
The Holiday is a sad excuse for a romantic comedy, with very little romance and even less comedy.The main plot of the movie revolves around Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz's characters switching homes for the holiday, allowing each to meet their obvious love interests.
By the middle of the movie, her scenes are painful to watch, and one can only hope that the scene switches back to Winslet's character, whose scenes with the elderly screenwriter are genuine and sweet.The men exist only as romantic foils, and Jude Law plays this part well, managing to exude some charm and playing believably off of Diaz, despite their lack of chemistry.
Like Cameron couldn't commit, Jude had a hard time opening up to his real life, Kate couldn't get out of love with someone who wasn't treating her right, and Jack was falling in love with the wrong women.
When both ladies arrive, they are excited and anxious about their new lifestyles and countries, they also both meet each other's brothers and while Grahm, Iris's brother, and Amanda hit it off immediately, it takes Jack's character and Iris a while to realize that it's time to move on from their unhealthy relationships, of course, it's difficult since they live on separate sides of the world from each other.The Holiday may be a bit hokey and cheesy to watch, but for a girl's afternoon, I think this was a great film that was honest and anyone could use for those broken hearts.
Of course, with Cameron Diaz back in star form -- and I do mean burning bright -- it's hard to imagine anyone not being able to work up chemistry.The movie's more than a little saccharine, but Kate Winslet is very winning and Eli Wallach's sweet performance more than makes up for the constant annoyance that is Jack Black.
That doesn't mean it's bad, or that it is not worth your time.In this case there was a lot more going on.Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz were absolutely great as women trying to find themselves.
I was impressed with both performances.I also though Jude Law was great, and I have a new found respect for Jack Black in what I consider the best performance of his career.I was thrilled to see Eli Wallach (King of the Corner) in an outstanding performance.Great music, great acting, superb script and direction by Nancy Meyers, and two of the cutest girls you have ever seen - Miffy Englefield and Emma Pritchard.A real treat..
Cameron Diaz continues to perform well as an under-rated and overlooked actress along with her co-stars (Kate Winslet and Jude Law) all doing well (if only Jack Black could expand his range).
Everything's better at Christmas—how many terrible movies have we all sat through just because they take place in December?—and you can now add a modern classic to your box of black-and-white films you watch every holiday season.Kate Winslet opens the film with a poignant narration about the different types of love, and a montage overlay introduces us to all the characters in the film.
Cameron Diaz does a fantastic job with her character and, like Jack Black, steps out of her usual nutty portrayal.I would definitely recommend this movie..
Amanda is a movie trailer editor in LA.Iris is a society column editor for The Daily Telegraph in London.Amanda finds out that her boyfriend Ethan is cheating on her.Iris' on-off boyfriend Jasper announces his engagement at the office Christmas party.To make the long story short, Amanda comes to stay at Iris' home at the countryside in Surrey, and vice versa.Amanda finds Iris' brother Graham attractive.Iris finds her soul mate in movie composer Miles.The Holiday (2006) is a romantic comedy directed by Nancy Meyers.Cameron Diaz does great job as Amanda Woods.Kate Winslet is amazing as Iris Simpkins.Jude Law is terrific as Graham Simpkins.Jack Black gives a rather funny performance as Miles Dumont.Eli Wallach is brilliant as Amanda's aging screenwriter neighbor Arthur Abbott.Shannyn Sossamon is very good as Miles' girlfriend Maggie.Edward Burns is great as Ethan Ebbers.And so is Rufus Sewell as Jasper Bloom.You can see veteran stars like Bill Macy playing Ernie and Shelley Berman playing Norman.Kathryn Hahn is Bristol.John Krasinski plays Ben.Dustin Hoffman gives a cameo at the video rental store, while Black talks about The Graduate.There's pretty much what I liked about this movie.The chemistry thing works between the main stars.But I must say above all was Eli Wallach and his performance.Just look at this over 90- year old gentleman giving a speech at the auditorium.Reminds me of his lifetime achievement award he's going to receive at the Oscars next month.Way to go, Eli!
How could anyone possibly miss a movie in which Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black and Rufus Sewell star?!
Well,I expected this movie to be good but it surprised me in a good way.I had been feeling a little depressed and scenically & I was trying to escape,this movie worked wonders for me in a way that I can't explain.I got into it right from the first scene.I always knew that "JUDE LAW" is a very good actor,I've seen his "Breaking and Entering" & I liked him in that role too but seeing him like this with his soft side on the lose was extremely special."Kate Winslet" was the girl whom I fell in love with after watching "Titanic" but I think her baring all over-shadowed her whole career & people started giving her compliments on her beauty rather than her acting.She is worth seeing in this movie,when she weeps and yearns you feel her pain & when she laughs it makes us happy too."Cameron Diaz" is the "lively one" in this movie who makes a bad thing look good.I really don't believe in the tags that people attach to actors,"Jack Black" is the perfect example for that known only for his comedy skills he really steps up in this one & shows that those people are wrong.This movie is about "love",loving someone who loves us back.Its about finding the love that you were missing.Its "the" movie to watch over and over again..
The audience at The Grove in Los Angeles did enjoy this film and left the theater feeling very warm inside.The cast of Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Jack Black and Carmen Diaz worked magic on the screen and the warmth of the Santa Ana winds added to the excitement of Kate's journey to Los Angeles.
When Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) met and started seeing Miles (Jack Black) and Graham (Jude Law), I was really touched.
The relationship between Amanda played by Cameron Diaz, and Jude Law is believable, although Jack Black and Kate Winslet's relationship is a little hard to believe.
The trailer pretty much explains the plot: Amanda (Cameron Diaz) and Iris (Kate Winslet) swap homes over the holidays to get over their heartbreaks and end up in complicated situations, involving men of course, in their adopted getaways.Amanda has the amazing bod, wardrobe, dream home plus a fantastic job as a movie trailer maker, but suffers from a cheating boyfriend (Ed Burns).
Cameron Diaz and Jude Law are simply good at what they're doing, but I'd mention Jack Black (the Shallow Hall guy) and Kate Winslet too.
While Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Cameron Diaz gave expected quality performances, Jack Black was a pleasant surprise in a romantic ensemble.
The holiday is a good romantic comedy and in 138 minutes,it puts two romantic comedies at the price of one.They do not offer nothing for themselves but the force of the combined casts and the expert director's experience on this genre make the two romantic comedies very fun.The story sounds tired and predictable,and it is like that,but director Nancy Meyers has,like I said before,a lot of experience on romantic comedies and she gives something to the film that makes it better.Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet are perfectly chosen on their characters.They bring great performances and they give humanity to their characters.The main male cast is not too good.Jude Law brings a good performance but,on a few moments he does not feel credible.In the case of Jack Black,I enjoy his style of comedy a lot(and his style as a musician)but he is not the appropriate for his character.His humor is always near to appear with the expressions he does and it's difficult to take him seriously on a serious dramatic role.I think Black is a wonderful comedian but a bad actor.On the supporting cast,my favorite performance is Eli Wallach's in the character of an old screenwriter.His function of mentor is pretty obvious but he gives some brilliant dialogs which explain the function of modern romantic comedies,giving a touch of sophistication to a simple story.And the dialogs are the second strongest point this film has.It's obviously a romantic comedy but Meyers knows that the romance and the humor need to come from the character's personalities and not from forced situations.So,with realistic dialogs(and very funny on some occasions),Meyers puts the ideology of the characters to leave that the comedy goes naturally from their interactions and their conflicts.The holiday is a good romantic comedy in which the romance is honest and the comedy is funny.It's not a great movie but I have to say it kept me very fun and it never bored me.I recommend it for its dialogs,humor,the great work of the main actresses and for the touches of intelligence Meyers gave to the film..
Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, and Kate Winslet are all phenomenal in this film.
The trivia says this film was written specifically with actors Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black in mind.