The Holiday (PG-13)
Mike:
Scott:
Scott: Tonight we are reviewing The Holiday
, a movie about two women switching homes and lifestyles, and learning how to live again.
What did you think Mike?
Mike: I really enjoyed this movie. It is a throwback to the old romantic comedies. It is sweet and funny without being too goopy.
What about you?
Scott: I thought it was a funny movie. The story is about overworked movie trailer editor Amanda (Cameron Diaz), from LA, exchanging homes with Iris (Kate Winslet), from the UK, the heart broken newspaper writer. Amanda runs into Iris's brother Graham (Jude Law) and Iris runs into Amanda's co-worker Miles (Jack Black).
It's a romantic comedy and I was glad to see everyone was involved in the romance and the comedy, not just Jack Black.
Mike: Yes. I enjoyed all four of the leads. The added bonus was Eli Wallach as former film writer Arthur Abbot. One of the nicest relationships in the movie is the friendship that pops up between Iris and Arthur.
Scott: It's that relationship that saves a Iris from herself and allows her to date again.
Mike: I like that the movie has an old fashioned element to it.
Scott: I recently saw Eli Wallach in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Funny to see him so soon again.
Mike: Wallach is a great character actor famous for such diverse roles as Calvera in the Magnificent Seven and Mr Freeze on the old Batman TV show.
And he is 91 today, Pearl Harbor day.
Scott: I forgot to ask, did you have a drink on December 5th?
Mike: No why, was I supposed to?
Scott: Yes, it was repeal day, the day the 21st amendment repealed the 18th amendment to the constitution, the day prohibition ended.
Mike: Ok, thanks for letting me know. Back to the review...
Scott: The movie swung around the two women, Amanda and Iris. We would watch one woman for a bit and then bounce to the other for a while. I thought it was uneven at times with Diaz getting too much air time when I really wanted more Winslet.
Mike: I agree, I thought Winslet's character was much more interesting than Diaz’s.
Scott: I am really starting to like her. Finding Neverland from two years ago was one of my favorite movies and I loved her in that as well.
Mike: On the other hand, I thought Jude Law did an outstanding job and was very likeable for a change.
Scott: I agree with you on that. I enjoyed him as well.
Scott: Maybe we just liked the accents?
Mike: Well, maybe.
Winslet was also outstanding in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Scott: The least developed of the four was Black. He moved along Winslet's character, but Wallach was far more important in her life.
Mike: Jack was toned down for a change, but has a great scene talking about movie scores in the video store.
Scott: He was still similar to how he is in all of his movies. My favorite movie of his is still Airborne.
Mike: Don't know Airborne, but I like the School of Rock.
The funny thing is that this movie spends a lot of time talking about movies. Jack Black is a film composer. Diaz makes movie trailers. Wallach is a former screen writer. This leads to commentary about classic movies as well as contrast of the film industry of today.
Scott: Iris was given a list of movies to watch by Abbott, every movie with a strong leading woman. This leads Iris to show her spine, her moxie.
Mike: Iris starts off mousy, but really grows into an attractive self confident woman.
Scott: You could say she cleans up well.
Mike: On the other hand, Amanda has self confidence galore, she's just not happy.
Scott: Exactly, she never cries, she doesn't need men; she is all she ever needs.
Mike: I like Diaz, but I found myself watching her more for how pretty she was as opposed to how interesting she was.
Scott: She has very good facial expressions. It's always easy to smile when she does.
Mike: One of the great gimmicks in the movie is the sporadic movie trailers of her life going on in her head. Even down to the familiar trailer announcer doing the voiceovers.
Scott: We spent much more time on the Amanda/Graham side of the story than the other. The first hour or so was majority Amanda.
Mike: The good part of their story is that there is more to book editor Graham, than meets the eye. I don't want to spoil anything, but he turns out quite surprising.
Scott: I will prevent that spoiler by talking about the score, by Hans Zimmer. Like most of Hans work, it was great.
Mike: Very nice.
Scott: You may even hear a reference to Hans in the movie, make sure to listen carefully.
Mike: The score was so striking that you actually noticed it didn't you?
Scott: Since one of the characters did movie scores, it was hard not to notice.
Mike: Having them talk about scores, does bring it to mind.
Mike: I enjoyed it so much. I may actually go out and buy it when it hits stores in January.
I think Nancy Meyers, who wrote and directed, did a nice job.
Scott: Meyers was good. I just didn't like the split between the two leading ladies. That was my biggest complaint. How could I not want to see more of Winslet?
Mike: I think it may be more even than you think
Meyers is responsible for writing a few movies that I have loved over the years..
Most recently she did the excellent Something’s Gotta Give, but I also like Father of the Bride, Baby Boom and going back a ways, Private Benjamin.
Scott: Speaking of ladies... There are two cuties in this movie I have to mention. Miffy Englefield (age 7) and Emma Pritchard (4 or 5) show up on the screen just to show us what cute means. Both performed very well. They were very dramatic with just the right touch of humor.
Mike: They add some real sweetness to the movie that will affect even the most cynical out there.
This is one of those movies that can get ripped apart trying to analyze the realism, but the romance of it makes it fun.
Scott: It was a fun movie, a great Christmas time flick
Mike: This is the kind of movie where you say "that never happens", but you really wish it did.
Scott: So what do you rate this?
Mike: As you can tell, I liked this movie. It reminded me of some of the romantic comedies of the 40's that I love. I give this a 4 for Romantic Comedy and a 4 overall.
And you?
Scott: I also enjoyed this movie. I liked the little bits of Hollywood life thrown in to change up the careers from the normal romantic comedies. I give it a 3 overall and a 4 for romantic comedy.
Mike: I think I will actually go back to see this movie with my wife.
As great a date as you are, I prefer to see these kinds of movies with her.
Scott: Can't argue with that. I told my wife that she missed a good movie. For the dog lovers out there, there is a funny dog scene to watch out for.
Mike: Take a break from real life and enjoy The Holiday!
