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Holiday, The
Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures Entertainment


6.6

based on 31 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 36 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

FILM:

MPAA 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)

GENRE(S):	Comedy \| Romance
WRITTEN BY:	Nancy Meyers
DIRECTED BY:	Nancy Meyers
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: March 13, 2007 Theatrical: December 8, 2006
RUNNING TIME:	138 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

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.

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.

Miami Herald Connie Ogle

This melding of comedic minds is one of the better holiday gifts we've received, cinematically speaking.

Portland Oregonian M. E. Russell

Despite this familiarity-wallow, The Holiday is likable. Really likable, in fact.

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.

Variety Justin Chang

A lavishly overstuffed gift basket of a movie.

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

It's formulaic but with a big heart.

Christian Science Monitor Peter Rainer

Much more silly than romantic.

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.

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

No matter how good-natured, The Holiday ends up a glutted farce.

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.

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

A harmlessly cheery confection.

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Law shines like a sunbeam, warming the film with rakish charm and unexpected emotionalism.

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.

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.

Empire William Thomas

There is bound to be a large appreciative audience for this chick flick. But it might not be you.

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.

Slate Dana Stevens

iIt's far less sickly than plenty of yuletide offerings, last year's "The Family Stone" being one shudder-worthy example.

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."

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.

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.

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

A lark, with pretensions to be more.

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.

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.

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."

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

The problem is that happy endings this strident and overextended begin to seem somewhat desperate.

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.

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."

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.

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.

Washington Post Ann Hornaday

This overproduced romantic comedy doesn't even qualify as fluff; it's flat, featureless plastic.

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.

Holiday, The Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures Entertainment

Holiday, The
Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures Entertainment