The Holiday (2006)

Time for a holiday

Yes, the holiday season is here! It is a time to feast on turkeys (they have it easier than chickens, we only eat them once a year), give/receive presents, decorate your Christmas tree, do last minute shopping and most importantly to take a break from the bullshit world of work, school and, uh, work. Go for a holiday! You mean you don't know where to go? How about a home exchange that involves Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black (Oh yeah, I can feel your heart pumping real fast)? Well, its cheaper than a real holiday.

The story evolves around 2 women who are poles apart. Woman at L.A. is Amanda, who has a 'tear duct' problem (Cameron Diaz). Amanda is a successful career woman who has it all: a big house, loads of money and a company that produces movie trailers. No such luck in love instead. She finds that her boyfriend is cheating on her and promptly breaks up with him.

Meanwhile on the other side of the globe is Iris, woman at London. She is a journalist (with a problem with controlling her tears) at the Telegraph, and is head over heels for her ex husband, Jasper (Rufus Sewell) and still bears hope that one day they will reconcile. All hopes vanish when Jasper announces his marriage to another woman and to do it in front of her, now thats what i call a double whammy.

Question time. How do lonely souls spend Christmas? Answer: Go for a holiday! Not the normal kind of holiday, mind you, but a home exchange. Amanda moves to London and Iris flies to L.A. The rest of the story revolves around the people they meet, ie: Iris's brother, Graham (Jude Law) and Miles (Jack Black) and how they subsequently fall in love.

Notice that the focus is not on the male stars of this show. The real leads are Diaz and Winslet as this is a female orientated show. How? Firstly, the plot discusses on how women can be strong and live their own lives, sans men. Secondly, why do you think Jude Law is in it? To Act (Pardon me, he can act but this show requires him to just turn on his charm)? No! To sell tickets. Jack Black is here to cater for women with different taste (funny, chubby) for men. The guys here are the eye candies not the gals.

The Holiday is definitely not in the class of Love Actually. At best, it is just an above average movie. Metaphorically speaking, if The Holiday is like a trip from Singapore to Thailand, then Love Actually will be from Singapore to Europe.

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