POISON SCOOTER

The Holiday

Yeah, it's a chick flick alright. But Jack Black is in it. And my favorite actress Kate Winslet. And the hot Cameron Diaz. But does that make it any good?

Sort of.

Nancy Myers really hit a homerun last time out with Something's Got to Give. Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson gave solid performances and the material was really well constructed. So what happened here on The Holiday? I like the idea of exploring the love lives of people who have interesting jobs (Diaz makes movie trailers for a living and hears that guy who narrates them in her head at various intervals throughout the film), but I kind of think that casting not only Black as a movie music composer, but Ed Burns as a fellow composer is a bit of a stretch. Winslet and her brother Jude Law are more believable as a writer and editor respectively, but must Myers always put her characters in such lofty employment? Nicholson was rap record label owner, Keaton a novelist in Something, Mel Gibson in the over the top What Women Want was an Ad Executive. Does she not think we would watch if Diaz was a school teacher and Winslet a secretary?

Anyway...there are some good laughs, but not enough to say this is a comedy. And there is some emotional heft, but not enough to say it's a drama. It's a bit lost in what it wants to be. I've heard some reviewers mention that it's the kind of movie that makes you wish you were watching Love Actually again on DVD. Silly, but kind of spot on. All the actors are very capable, even if slightly miscast in Black's regard, but the story lines are too convienent. It's typical mushy movie bullshit at the end and although I still liked the movie, I wouldn't say to rush and see it in the theater. It's a nice rental for "date" night with the significant other. (In other words, if you have to watch a flick of this nature it beats some crap with Kate Hudson...if you get my drift fellas.)

posted by Scooter @ 6:52 PM