Holiday

Plot synopsis:
Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet), a society columnist for The Daily Telegraph in London, has been in love with Jasper Bloom (Rufus Sewell) for over three years, despite his infidelities and the fact they have broken up some time previously. When she learns at a company Christmas party that he is engaged to be married, Iris despairs over the state of affairs in her life. Meanwhile, Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz), a workaholic in Los Angeles who owns a company that produces movie trailers, discovers that her boyfriend, Ethan Ebbers (Edward Burns), has been cheating on her with his 24-year-old secretary. On the spur of the moment she decides to get away for the Christmas holidays and visits a home-exchange website on which Iris has listed her "quaint cottage in Surrey." Amanda contacts Iris, and the two women quickly agree to swap homes for two weeks.
While Iris revels in the luxury of Amanda's Los Angeles home, Amanda is disappointed by the slow, quiet pace of life in Iris's Surrey cottage. Amanda grows bored after just a few hours and books a flight home for the next day. Later that night, Iris's brother, Graham (Jude Law), knocks at the door thinking 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. Because of the obvious chemistry between them, they end up sleeping together.
In the morning, Graham receives phone calls from Sophie and Olivia, which arouse Amanda's suspicions that Graham has girlfriends. Graham, knowing that Amanda is planning to return home imminently, 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, and Graham agrees to stay the night with her. The next day 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 tells her that he cries all the time: movies, books, and birthday cards. He also reveals himself to be a book editor. While obviously enjoying each other's company, Amanda is nonetheless worried that the relationship will become "complicated."
Meanwhile, Iris is enjoying her 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 meets an elderly neighbour named Arthur Abbott (Eli Wallach), standing lost at the corner, and she escorts him home. She learns that he was a screenwriter during the Golden Age of Hollywood. The two become fast friends. Arthur notes that Iris's relationship with Jasper is not serving her well, 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, alone again in the cottage, she has a change of heart and surprises Graham at his house. He looks uncomfortable 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. Inside the house, Amanda asks Graham in a whisper if he is married. He says no, revealing that his wife died two years earlier. Amanda asks him why he did not reveal the existence of his daughters to her during their lunch, and Graham explains that he doesn't usually tell women about them because he doesn't know how to date women while also being a dad. Amanda gets along beautifully with Sophie and Olivia, making Graham consider how Amanda might fit into his family life.
Iris discovers that the Screenwriters' Guild wants to throw a grand celebration in Arthur's honor, but he is reluctant to attend for several reasons, chief among them being that he cannot walk without the assistance of his walker, and does not want to embarrass himself on stage. Iris encourages him to go because it's a tremendous honor for him, 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 this time Jasper contacts her, asking her to assist with the book he is writing. She agrees to look over his pages, but ends up having so much fun that she doesn't have the time.
Iris and Miles have slowly become friends, and one night go to the video store to rent some other films that Arthur had recommended. From the video store, Miles sees his girlfriend Maggie in the arms of another guy. He is shocked, as she told him that she was in Santa Fe on an extended film shoot and would not be in L.A. on Christmas Eve. He runs out of the store to confront Maggie and realizes that she has been cheating on him. Iris and Miles then return to Amanda's house, where they discuss their tendencies to fall for people that they know are wrong for them, and they begin to bond with each other. Shortly afterwards Miles and Iris are eating lunch together, and Maggie calls Miles wanting to see him. Miles leaves to see her, but promises to come to Arthur's award ceremony that night. Iris returns to Amanda's house, and is later surprised to find Jasper at her doorstep. Iris is touched at first, but then asks if he is still engaged. When he responds that he is, she finally realizes he is no good for her and 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, ends his relationship with her for good and rushes to attend Arthur's award ceremony.
Iris and Arthur arrive at the ceremony and are pleasantly surprised to find that, despite Arthur's fears that the ceremony would be sparsely attended, the hall is filled with attendees standing and applauding his achievements. That, and the music that Miles wrote especially for Arthur for this moment, give 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 England by then; Miles replies "I've never been to England." 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, but Amanda is still doubtful that a long-distance relationship will 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, too. Amanda tells him that she has decided to stay to spend New Year's Eve with him, and they embrace. Iris and Miles celebrate the new year with Amanda and Graham and his daughters, enjoying the evening, and laughing and dancing together.

Tags: romantic

Review:
Story with unused potential; few good scenes. Director Pooja Bhatt goes on the lighter side this time with Holiday after her heavy Paap. Holiday is the story of an ugly, clumsy, and unpopular girl frustrated by all her failures and just once wants to make her father proud. Her sister plays the role equivalent to the stereotypical American "blonde ditz," and might I add, she did a pretty poor job at it. The girl falls in love at sight with Dino, a salsa dance teacher. She gets herself involved in his personal problems with Kashmira Shah. This story had lots of potential such as developing the sister's relationship with her "boyfriend," but was sadly left alone. Nonetheless, there were a few good scenes. My favorite is the one where Dino tells the girl to not be crushed by others and lose her identity, or she will just become another face in the crowd, the theme of the movie. This scene takes the movie beyond your typical "ugly duckling" story and gives it much more depth. The protagonist was poorly casted. She gave a poor performance. Dino's immense efforts in learning salsa and his character clearly showed through the screen. Kashmira was also good. Songs were okay.. Definitely Worth Watching. I had read that the movie was about a girl who did not think she was pretty. When you get into it, you think Dirty Dancing Bollywood Style. I love Bollywood so they can do a Bollywood version of anything and I am game to at least watch it. However, she is also struggling with her looks and failures - that storyline is more unique to this version. I love the energy and style of this version. I think the dancing is more fitting with Dirty Dancing more so than typical Bollywood style. I think some of the dynamics are much more heartbreaking in this version those between her and her father; and those between her and her sister's friend. I think her romantic interest has a depth or facet that Patrick Swayze's character lacked. The girl that got pregnant is absolutely beautiful and stunning plus a gifted dancer but those words do not do her justice. I think the plot translates well plus there are the added aspects the original lacks. I think they could have done more to help her fit in the "ugly duckling" role. I cannot fully speak to their acting since I think I lose some of the subtleties since I have to have English subtitles. I do not think it is fair to compare Hollywood to Bollywood the styles are just too different & I for one like that watch Hollywood when I want that or Bollywood when that is what I am in the mood for. I gave it an 8 because I do not entirely like the Dirty Dancing storyline. I do like the additional plot elements in this version. Beautiful cast & dancing.. Just Another Remake. This movies is a remake of Dirty Dancing. An American movie that came out in 1987 . I don't get why people can't come up with original ideas. It was a decent remake but people should really think about new stories for movies. Even most of the steps were the same. Even the hula part was the same. Whats up with film makers, cant they come up with new stories. Dirty Dancing was so much better even though it was made a long time ago. I guess it's good for people who don't know English that this movie was remade. Its a nice movies to watch over all but I would recommend watching the original, Dirty Dancing, if you like English movies. It's really amazing. The story is really great about the coming out of a young girl. If you like chick flicks you will like it.. hi. i have just seen the movie holiday and i was really impressed with it.i have recommended it to most of my friends and i will be going for it again.well done to the entire team of holiday for a job well done.i must say that pooja bhatt has done really well for this movie and its different then the rest.dino morea has done really well and I'm really fascinated with they way he dances.onjolee nair has also danced really well.it was a different movie altogether and i really hope that it is a hit at the box office.this movie also teaches us not to trust guys so much....sorry to all the guys in the movies :d.i really liked onjolee's look....she is so pretty and i really like the way she danced in the movie.