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Capone Goes On A HOLIDAY That's A Bit Too Long & A Little Dull!!
Hey, everyone. Capone in Chicago here.
Many, many women I know have been waiting months for this movie's release. And if the audience I saw this film with in any indication, women are going to flock to this overloaded and underwhelming half a decent movie. You see, The Holiday is actually two movies, connected by a pair of women who swap houses and find love in countries other than the ones they live in. Sound like much ado about nothing? That it is.
I happen to like writer-director Nancy Myers' recent efforts What Women Want and Something's Gotta Give. So sue me. So I was actually half looking forward to The Holiday, thanks in large part to its cast. The idea of Kate Winslet (my ideal fantasy woman) and Jack Black (my ideal fantasy man) as couple in a romantic comedy seemed intriguing. And while I was ambivalent about the pretty half of this equation (Jude Law teaming with Cameron Diaz), these are all great actors that Myers could probably have a lot of fun with. So what went wrong? Kate (a newspaper writer) and Cameron (a movie trailer editor) are in dead-end relationships (with Rufus Sewell and Ed Burns, respectively) and decide to swap homes for two weeks around the Christmas holiday. Both make this decision spontaneously, meet on the Internet, make the deal, and hop on planes the next day.
While in her quiet dwelling in the quiet English countryside, Diaz finds herself bored until Winslet's brother (Law) shows up unaware that his sister has taken off. Naturally the two end up spending the night drinking and having sex. Winslet's experience isn't quite as raucous, but she does meet a next door neighbor, played by Eli Wallach, and former top screenwriter, who now lives alone. The two become fast friends, and he even recommends a few classics to watch that he wrote. Jack Black (about as tame and toothless as I've ever seen him) arrives as a film score composer friend of Diaz's ex-boyfriend, who comes over to the house to pick up some things. He's dating a hot actress (Shannyn Sossamon), whom he believes must be crazy or blind to be going out with a schlub like him. But the attraction between he and Winslet is immediate and undeniable.
Here's what's wrong with The Holiday: Everybody is just a little too perfect. Even their faults and shortcomings are cute and perfect and hopelessly forgivable. The Diaz-Law storyline never drew me in, despite a few laughs. Diaz spends most of her scenes acting with a nervous giggle, as if that's supposed to make her seem vulnerable. Alright people let's get one god-damned thing straight: Cameron Diaz is one of the hottest hotties to ever be hot. She will never be convincing as someone who lacks confidence or is unsure of what she wants. In my mind, this entire storyline could have been sacrificed in an effort to throw all of the focus on the fare more interesting tale of Winslet and Black.
In its current state, this storyline also suffers by being classically underwritten and slightly dull. However, if the movie had just been about these two, then there might have been some hope. Winslet can pull off being desperate and pathetic, but not because she's any less hot than Diaz; she's just a better actress. This role is a slightly funnier take on her character from Little Children. She's supposed to be the plainer of the two female leads in both films, but we end up liking her far more. Her scenes with Black are sweet, a little underwhelming, but still nice. And it would have been exciting to see a film about the slow and nervous dance these two do with each other. The warm-and-fuzzy styling of Jack Black may be tough not to laugh at at first, but he grows on you with his sincerity. Of course a guy like Black would go loopy for a woman as cool as Winslet. Who wouldn't, I ask.
But as it stands (with a running time of 130 minutes-plus, I should add), The Holiday is mostly smoke with no fire. And Meyers playing it safe simply is no fun at all. We never doubt for a second how things will end up for our players, and that's never a good thing. Taking the surprise out of even the most lightweight of romantic comedies makes it a long-ass waiting game toward the hopelessly inevitable conclusion; in this case, two inevitable conclusions. This one was a sad, if not shocking, disappointment.
Capone
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then i think it would have probably been interesting on the order of 'venus.' however, throw in the pablum storybook romance for the masses and it's just another tripe nancy myers piece. and i think many would agree that it is just plain silly to consider diaz as hotter than kate (for the purposes of a movie...you may have your own predilections...but, come on, it's not like it's diaz vs. amy sedaris. OK well some might also consider amy hot. i guess my argument is flawed)
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i meant to write 'piece of tripe' and instead wrote 'tripe' looking like i'd meant to write 'trite.' a very fine line.
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like anyone here will go see that warm pile of shit..i can just see southpark doing the voice over guy "This holiday...."
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like anyone here will go see that warm pile of shit..i can just see southpark doing the voice over guy "This holiday...."
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She is a female Karl Malden with an ass for a nose. Not to mention her horse-mouth...
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Ugly and annoying are more like it.
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Diaz was hot in the Mask..now, not so much. She reminds me of a post collagen implant Meg Ryan..they both look like ducks!
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Maybe they should have had the second half of the movie dealing with the ex's coming back for revenge, guns a blazin, bullets flying! Then to deal with the bloody demise of their respective relationships, Kate & Cameron console eachother in a 20minute,NC-17 lesbian scene. Yes, that sounds much better!
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Sure, it's cutesy. It's exactly like every other Nancy Myers movie. And sure it's the same shit we see in every other romantic comedy, but I liked it, thought the dialogue was nice, and thought Jude Law was terrific. Even Jack Black didn't annoy me. And the Dustin Hoffman cameo is funny as shit. As I basically wrote in my own review of this movie, if you liked Something's Gotta Give, you'll probably like this. I agree that the movie is overlong, and I thought Cameron Diaz, whom I do think is overrated and not that attractive, gives a really shitty performance in the first ten or so minutes of this film. But overall I liked it for what it was: your average romantic comedy.
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He reprises his role from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Not really, but that would have been interesting, lol.
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I'm sorry, Jack Black, beleivable as sincere? This I've got to see. I wouldn't have believed it was possible until Adam Sandler's turn in Spanglish.By the way, Spanglish was so good.
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and a BIG BITCH
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majority do not find Diaz attractive at all. The media don't even try to prop her up as a sex symbol - thats how un-attractive she is. ChogWolf is right though, she was presentable in The Mask but it has been all downhill since then. Ms. Winslet on the other hand.....mmmmmm.
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Reading this talkback I have come across several assertions that Cameron Diaz is not good looking, which blows my mind. You dont have to be personally attracted to her to see that she is a gorgeous creature, and I think that most people would agree. I am not saying she is the best looking woman to walk the face of the earth, but she certainly is not ugly by any stretch of the word.
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Winslet is indeed gorgeous, more so than Diaz, but Diaz is still good looking.
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So we can go see Borat again.
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despite any level of physical attractiveness, is just not worth giving the time of day to. A passing interest...ok fine. But if this is a movie you have been desperate to see with eevrything else that is out there you clearly have a flaw in your character. I remember the first time I saw the trailer and though "Oh Christ even the most sappy of dumb bitches could not possibly want to see that." and here I am being proven wrong. If this isn't a cry for some sort of population control I can't imagine what is.
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But... Kate Winslet... good freakin' night... she's got that whole "approachable" gorgeous girl thing going on which is completely devastating to mortal men. I'd say I'd follow her around like a love sick pupy dog if I ever had the chance.
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I really have to start spell checking.
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she was in the first (I think) of that Ricky Gervais show, Extras...and when she says shes only doing a holocaust movie to get an oscar...that whole speach of hers made me want to hump the TV. (not a first, by the way)
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Jack Black derp de derp. Derp de derpity derpy derp. Until one day, the derpa derpa derpaderp. Derp de derp, da teedily dumb. From the creators of Der, and Tum Ta Tittaly Tum Ta Too, Jack Black is DA DERP DEE DERP DA TEETLEY DERPEE DERPEE DUMB. Rated PG-13.
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Kate Winslet IS the pretty one in this film... she's incredible... and a great actress to boot! too bad I don't think we get a glimpse of those sizeable areolas in this one...
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...is the ONLY thing that interests me about this movie.
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Of course, I'm gay and I like romantic comedies, so this was right up my alley. Still, it's a good date movie for the straight guys...assuming any of you losers can even get a date. Ha ha ha ha!
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. . .and I saw it as a human-interest story-not a sexual gratifier-about people trying hard to think happy thoughts at Christmas, which I am trying to do as well...I thought Diaz's character quite believable,
(and damn hot as well IMO; didn't used to like her all that much)and liked the bittersweet feel of
it all, much like life (and loved the way things sort of accidentally all worked out at the end. . .much like life also.) It was heartwarming and well-acted, and I got what I wanted from it. :) -
She's got a zit beard
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Damn you Michael Bay
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It amuses me that the people shitting all over this film, calling it sappy, oversweet, under-directed, poorly acted, badly cast--WHATEVER, are all guys.
It further tickles me that you all seem so SURPRISED that women would flock to see it.
Have you ever asked yourselves whether women are going in droves to see it, and reacting so positively to it, because they'd LOVE to see a man behave that way in real life?
And if that means nothing to you, let me put it in terms you'll undoubtedly understand: if any of you morons acted like EITHER Jude Law's, or Jack Black's character does in THE HOLIDAY, you'd be getting laid WAY more, and by MUCH better-looking women.
And by the way, those of you who say Cameron Diaz is NOT good-looking would probably sell your remaining teeth for a fair chance with her.
Idiots. At least Kate Winslet passes the bar, that shows you've got BRAIN ONE. -
Dec 10, 2006 1:10:02 AM CST
Since I dont care about this movie, I'll talk about TF.
by gibsonusa returns
Let's see here. First, they tell us little Bumblebee has gone from a 150 horsepower VW Beetle to a huge 500 horsepower Camaro. Then they tell us this camaro will be used in a story about a boy and his car. Then they show us a pimped up, flaming baboon and say that's going to be Optimus. Then they show us aluminum foil, a chickengorilla, a Gundam, and a crumpled up piece of paper and tell us that they will be Megatron, Starscream, Jazz, and Ratchet, respectively. Then they get mad at us when we say WTF. Am I missing something? Is this proper public relations? Is this a consumer driven product or what?
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I thought it was pretty good, a little long, but a good nights entertainment. It's better than your typical romantic comedies of late, and Cameron Diaz is a babe, but Kate Winslet is a goddess.
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Either you're a 12 year old who just loves to get flamed or you're a miserable fuckwit who goes to the movies just to prove how clever and elitist he is. Twat.
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You suck.
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-rry Christmas everyone!! And for the record, I'm a lady and I think this film looks like bobbins. Bring on 300!!
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Bad form, sir. Jolly bad form.
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The problem is, I made a valid point, too. And it's equally unrealistic to say that Kate Winslet is unattractive--WTF are you attracted to, Lindsey Lohan? Because then I'd understand the rest of your hate-riddled, uber-cynical and frankly, MORONIC comments. NONE of the leads in this film are unattractive. You know what's unattractive? When brain-damaged trolls like you come to piddle on films like this because you've lost your soul somewhere and can't POSSIBLY believe that someone might enjoy seeing a feel-good movie like this. The numbers don't lie. It's #2 at the box office. You sound like a sad sack of cynical misery, and I have to wonder why you spent your $11.50 to see this film. Consider how much misogynistic porn you could have paid for.
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... I'd go gay for that.
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