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Holiday, The
EMAILPRINTColumbia Pictures / Sony Pictures Entertainment
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 31 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 36 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Comedy | Romance
Written by: Nancy Meyers
Directed by: Nancy Meyers
Release Date:
Theatrical: December 8, 2006
DVD: March 13, 2007
Running Time: 138 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: PG-13 for sexual content and some strong language
Starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Eli Wallach, Edward Burns, and Rufus Sewell
A romantic comedy about two women who trade homes for the holidays only to fins that a change of address can change their lives. (Sony)
Also On Metacritic
FILM: Something's Gotta Give The Parent Trap What Women Want
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database View The Trailer Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Premiere Stephen Saito
The Holiday is the type of welcome diversion that only Meyers still seems to specialize -- a romantic comedy where Barbara Stanwyck and Rosalind Russell would have been just as natural as Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet and where the one liners fly like confetti.
Read Full Review >USA Today Claudia Puig
If you're willing to embrace a bit of corniness for the sake of some incisive humor, a few poignant moments and enjoyable scenarios, make time for The Holiday.
Read Full Review >Miami Herald Connie Ogle
This melding of comedic minds is one of the better holiday gifts we've received, cinematically speaking.
Read Full Review >Portland Oregonian M. E. Russell
Despite this familiarity-wallow, The Holiday is likable. Really likable, in fact.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Carina Chocano
The alluring surfaces of other people's lives can be deceiving, though generally not in a Nancy Meyers comedy, where the thin veneer of fantasy cloaks ... more fantasy.
Read Full Review >Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold
Even though almost everything about it feels forced and its casting chemistry hardly sizzles, its heart is in the right place, it has its quota of funny and touching moments, and it's ultimately fairly enjoyable.
Read Full Review >Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow
No matter how good-natured, The Holiday ends up a glutted farce.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman
The dialogue has a perky synthetic sheen, and with the exception of Diaz, Meyers brings out the best in her actors.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey
Law shines like a sunbeam, warming the film with rakish charm and unexpected emotionalism.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Ken Fox
Admitting that it's formulaic doesn't make it any less so, but it's enjoyable in a mushy, easily digested sort of way.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Manohla Dargis
Ms. Meyers, whose ambitions are telegraphed by her film's title, which directly invokes George Cukor's lovely 1938 romp "Holiday," has created a cumbersome vehicle by saddling Iris with a flamboyantly glamorous Los Angeles double, Amanda. As played by Cameron Diaz with oodles of charm and not an ounce of persuasion, Amanda doesn’t as much mirror Iris's love troubles as throw them into wincing relief.
Read Full Review >Empire William Thomas
There is bound to be a large appreciative audience for this chick flick. But it might not be you.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Scott Foundas
Meyers can write a good zinger, and she has a knack for casting actors who not only look good in bed, but are talented enough to rise above the material and, in some cases, nearly transform it (save Diaz). But make no mistake: We're a long way here from Ben Hecht and Preston Sturges.
Read Full Review >Slate Dana Stevens
iIt's far less sickly than plenty of yuletide offerings, last year's "The Family Stone" being one shudder-worthy example.
Read Full Review >The New Republic Stanley Kauffmann
Winslet is an actress, Diaz is not. The screenplay by Nancy Meyers, who directed, has dialogue that is not near the snap level of, say, Nicole Holofcener's comparable "Friends With Money."
Read Full Review >Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek
The Holiday drags on for more than two hours, long enough for even the most ardent suitor to lose interest. The premise, so delectable at the start, quickly begins to feel tired and oversold.
Read Full Review >The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen
For some (okay, me), The Holiday, like the holidays, will require some girding up, and is best met halfway with a self-immunizing smile. Otherwise, the good cheer may ring false; worse, it might even seem to sell love cheap, and lovers short.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle Marrit Ingman
His (Law's) is the standout performance, probably because it's quiet and reflective and nuanced amidst the flurries of relationship talk.
Read Full Review >ReelViews James Berardinelli
The Holiday is no vacation. Sloppy writing, an overindulgent editor, and poor casting have taken an intriguing premise and transformed it into an uneven mess.
Read Full Review >Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips
The Holiday is a 131-minute romantic comedy for those who, if they had their way, would still be watching "Love Actually."
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum
The problem is that happy endings this strident and overextended begin to seem somewhat desperate.
Read Full Review >New York Post Lou Lumenick
Complaining about the gooey and generic The Holiday is as useless as railing against fruitcake - this is a slick, throwaway chick flick designed to provide nothing more than mindless diversion between bouts of shopping.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Chronicle Ruthe Stein
This is familiar territory for writer-director Nancy Meyers, Hollywood's queen of the chick flick. Her latest has charming moments and a hopeful message for despondent singles, but it lacks the emotional resonance of Meyers' "Something's Gotta Give" and the zaniness of "What Women Want."
Read Full Review >Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern
In what was clearly designed to be a chick flick, the on-screen chicks work hard at being endearing, while Jude Law, as Amanda's more than conversational partner, charms everyone effortlessly and gets the best lines.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias
Even with a wild card like Black desperately retooling his lines, there's nothing authentic or personal about The Holiday--it's as chilling as heart-warmers get.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Ann Hornaday
This overproduced romantic comedy doesn't even qualify as fluff; it's flat, featureless plastic.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 6.6 (out of 10) based on 36 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Jeff A. gave it a2:
If you have ever wanted to watch a movie where nothing at all happens, then the Holiday is for you. Lifeless and dull as they come, it's proof you can't just throw a bunch of A-list actors at a script and make it work. My girlfriend is still watching it, but I've resorted to writing this review and shopping online rather than bothering with last half hour.
Paul gave it a0:
My girlfriend made me watch this film under duress, this is by far the worst and most BORING film i have ever seen in my entire life, completely pointless to watch i found myself wondering if i was in purgatory! jack black is diabolical, the role is the worst role hes ever played and he doesn't even play it well, as for the rest nothing wrong with the acting just the most pointless and boring film OF ALL TIME it makes me feel like puking all over myself just talking about it.
Linda L. gave it an8:
It's two, two, two romantic comedies in one. Nothing very profound here -- unless, perhaps, you feel urgently in need of trading lives with someone in a nice place far away, as the women get to do here. But if you're in the mood for a romantic comedy, this will hit the spot nicely. Likable actors, some funny lines and an enjoyable score.
Anthony S. gave it a9:
Contrary to Rev. Rikard's response, I felt that Diaz & Jude's relationship was deep and meaningful despite its predictability. For me, they made the movie. They clicked so well together, their onscreen chemistry combined with a fantastic musical score (thanks zimmer!!) get a 9 out of 10 stars in my book. Only downside to the film was that the ending dragged on for a bit in the last two scenes, other than that, no quibs!
T. B. gave it a7:
This certainly doesn't rival Hollywood at its best, best a 20/100? That's ridiculous. A film can be funny and warm - and be good, even if the writing isn't as crisp and clean as something Jane Austen might have penned. The problem with the film is that it tried to tell two stories, when it had only one - Cameron Diaz and Jude Law. And the other problem, which should be evident, is Jack Black. It's no wonder that Diaz and Law received the majority of the screen time.
Bc M. gave it an8:
Very enjoyable. Drags a little, and my husband was bored. Not me. Fun characters and fun story line. Suitable for most people because the sex scenes were very underplayed.
Amanda S. gave it a10:
This movie was a true love story. it appealed to a real audience and it touched me in place that most others fail to reach.
