November is a Smart Bitches Movie Matinee month and we want to get into the holiday season with the aptly named The Holiday.
For those who haven’t see it, here’s the plot synopsis:
Two women, one (Cameron Diaz) from America and one (Kate Winslet) from Britain, swap homes at Christmastime after bad breakups with their boyfriends. Each woman finds romance with a local man (Jude Law, Jack Black) but realizes that the imminent return home may end the relationship.
Redheadegirl was also the one who suggested this movie and she has some thoughts!
I suggested this movie because it’s one of my favorite holiday RomComs, full of people I really like (Kate! Cameron! Jude! Eli! It’s one of the times I actually like Jack Black!) I love those moments where you’re going “I really need to get away from my life for a little bit” and then you add in being able to fix the things you’re doing wrong (Don’t fuck that guy!) and having things work out.
Also real estate porn and talking about movies and screenwriting and film scores and put together by Nancy Meyers and it’s basically RHG bait.
I think the mid 2000’s are kind of an underrated era of RomComs. Sure, they were predictable, and less wacky than the 80s, but they’re like a warm fuzzy fleece blanket for your soul.
The Holiday is available to rent for around $3-4 and $8-13 to buy digitally on iTunes, Google:Play, and Amazon, and the DVD can be found at your local library, or cheaply online in new and used condition from Amazon or Alibris.
We’ll be discussing the film on Sunday, November 26. Hope you can join us!
Is this movie by chance based on a book by Maeve Binchy? Because if this plot synopsis belonged to an HABO I would absolutely be convinced that that was the book. (And how the hell I managed to remember the one, underwhelming Maeve Binchy book that I have read when I cannot remember the plots of books by favorite authors that I own and I know that I’ve read and enjoyed is beyond me).
December 18, 2009 we drove up to Baltimore for business, being chased the whole way by a blizzard. By the next morning, there was half a foot of snow -still coming down- and the job was cancelled. Of course there was a state of emergency which closed all the roads, so we spent the day huddled in our motel room. When the Weather Channel finally drove us overboard, we switched channels and found this movie just starting. I have very fond memories.
Also this was the trip that taught me always to bring extra knitting, because I finished the only project I brought with me!
This is available on Amazon Prime Video.
They filmed the English bit near where I grew up, during summer. If you look at the fields, you’ll notice only the nearby ones are snowy; the horizon is recently harvested 🙂
It’s also on Hulu for freesies if you have a subscription. And I often find it airing on cable tv at random times (a quick Google search shows it’s airing on CMT today!)
This is the movie that I always only watch one half of ,,, I adore Kate’s storyline (“Iris, if you were a melody…”) but always fast forward through Cameron’s bits.
I love this movie I saw it at the theatre with my sister when it was released, and every time I stumble across it on cable I have to watch it. Kate Winslet is amazing and charming and Jack Black is sweetly cast against type as the kind shy guy.
Jude Law has amazing comedic timing and is (IMHO) at his most attractive in this movie. Cameron Diaz isn’t really the ideal actress for her part (I find it hard to believe she is a super talented, workaholic, business owner or unlucky in love) but she’s OK. The supporting players are all fantastic and you will spend a good portion of your time envying the amazing houses and interior decoration.
Always enjoy re-watching this movie 🙂
I love this movie. It’s on my “holiday movies to watch” list. I’ve got the dvd so I’m not subject to the whims of streaming services or tv schedules.
I love this movie! This, White Christmas, Christmas in Connecticut and Love actually are the holiday movies my family cycles through every year. And I’m a sucker for Jude Law
I’ve been thinking about re-watching this movie soon. I love it.
I love this movie. I so want Cameron Diaz’s character to move to the UK and stay with Jude’s character.
I also really want the pattern for that cashmere sweater. Speaking of it, who sleeps in a *******cashmere******** sweater anyway? That’s a soft fiber that needs gentle treatment.
Woot! Woot! It’s on Canadian Netflix! I’m a recent (<1 week) Netflix subscriber and I haven't seen this movie before, so I'm adding it to my viewing schedule for some time in the next couple of weeks.
One of my favorites! The ending is my favorite part of the whole movie. DVR is set up to catch it tonight on CMT.
I love this movie so much I now own it!
Yay!!!! One of my two “must-watch” holiday movies, along with Love Actually. I love Iris’s storyline a bit more, especially her relationship with Arthur, her old man neighbor.
Love this movie so much. Kate’s storyline is so exceptionally better than Cameron’s, but I’ll take Jude Law being a loving father any day.
@Steffi Exactly! I don’t fastforward but if I have to go snacks or something, I wait until Cameron and Jude’s storyline comes back up.
It is available to rent and buy on Youtube also. Interestingly enough, TCM has shown it as well, since they typically show older movies. Btw, it looks like most movies which are available on Amazon and Google are also available on Youtube.