The Holiday

The Holiday (Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Eli Wallach) – Sure, some critics thought it was too long, too contrived, and too sugary sweet.  Bah humbug.  This is an excellent little Christmastime movie that qualifies as a chick flick the guys will like, too.  Cameron Diaz finally shows her age and Kate Winslet proves how much better an actress she is than Diaz.  The amazing part for me about Kate is that she shows a light side to her acting that is distinctly missing in all of her other roles.  After being the youngest woman to get two Oscar nominations, she must now feel free to take a risk or two. And while she’s not filming another movie at the moment, I think she ought to think about playing light comedy more.  Her film choices have always bordered on the unconventional, but here she is right in her element as the “leading lady who thinks she’s the best friend.”  But even with these two excellent actresses, the guys steal the movie.  Jude Law is more likeable than in any movie he has ever played – less self-conscious than in Alfie and not as self-important as he is in so many other movies.  None of us would ever see a coupling of Winslet and Jack Black, but it works perfectly here.  This is deft casting.  Black is actually almost restrained, believe it or not, and plays a practically normal person.  I really liked him in this.  But the tour-de-force actually belongs to one of the greatest actors of the entire century in Eli Wallach as the legendary screen writer whose life is enriched by his new relationship with Winslet – a very grandfatherly role that is dead-on.  I enjoyed this CF more than any since When Harry Met Sally.  It’s not a great movie, but it’s a wonderful light comedy you’ll want to see over and over.