The Holiday

[RuggerHug]

I love my Christmas films. All types. However I have never seen this one as it seemed a bit too saptastic when it came out. One of my friends has been trying to convince me it really is a good Christmasy harmless fun. Is it? I don't want to waste 2 hours of my seasonal viewing on something awful when I could have something amazing on.
Thanks

[Grumpyoldblonde]

SatsukiKusakabe Thanks, think I'll risk it. Wish I lived in a charming village and sat in the cosy pub wearing cashmere - idyllic fantasy I guess

[SatsukiKusakabe]

I can't remember language but possibly yes, there's a bit of sex.

Agree about scenery, we actually looked up the village where they filmed it as it wasn't far from us and had a wander round

[Grumpyoldblonde]

I like 'The Holiday' chiefly for the scenery, it is watchable rubbish. Actually, I can't remember, is there much bad language in it? My daughter hasn't seen it and I've promised her a movie afternoon, she's nearly 13, don't mind a bit of language but not constant effing and blinding.

[lyricaldancer]

If this is one with Kate Winslet then avoid at all costs. Terrible film. If you like cheesy, dull, chic flick type films it might be up your street, however.

[BeastofChristmasIsland]

The Steve Carell head on pancakes one is Dan in Real Life. It's good but not very Christmassy

[SnugglySnerd]

I thought it was dreadful, nauseating rubbish. I don't usually like romcom type films though.

[SpringerS]

Few people ever mention it as a Christmas film but I am partial to The Long Kiss Goodnight. Where Geena Davis was a pregnant amnesiac who makes a new life as a kindergarden teacher in a small town. She's the town sweetheart, engaged to a nice man and a great mother to her little girl. But her past, as a highly skilled assassin, comes back to haunt her at Christmas time.

It's totally cheesetastic but it's wonderfully so and has a big climactic action scene on a very Christmassy bridge.

[SamanthaBrique]

Jude was gorgeous in this one. Shame he's lost his looks in recent years.

[Bobtheblob]

Did you know the song "Kill The Director" by The Wombats was written about "The Holiday?" "If this is a romcom, kill the director, please!"

It's cheesy, and dreadful in places but I love it and still watch it at least once every year

[SatsukiKusakabe]

27 dresses - awful
Music and Lyrics - awful
You know what I quite like 13 going on 30

I watched Love Actually again the other night and some of it is truly awful. The whole Hugh Grant PM bit is barely watchable, down to his assistant calling Natalie chubby. Women get a hard time for being 'bitchy' but I can honestly say I couldn't imagine a woman in real life talking about another woman in that way. Just terrible dialogue.

[Winterc00kie]

Its a cringey cheese fest but I love it.


But the post sex scenes.. ..where they are lying there, panting, sweating etc and Diaz is clutching on to the bed.....in fact its so wrong....Jude shagging someone in his sisters bed.....

[VanillaSugarAndChristmasSpice]

I watch it repeatedly and I rewind/play rewind/play the bit where Jude Law cries and I shout "Ha! That's for shagging the nanny! Ha!"

[squoosh]

You're right Satsuki, the neighbour storyline does feel like an idea they had lying around that they just decided to shoehorn into The Holiday.

[squoosh]

Not sure what the Steve Carell/pancake film is! 😄

[squoosh]

Family Man stars Nicholas Cage (who usually irritates me) playing a rich playboy banker who gets to see what his life would have been like if he'd married his college sweetheart. It borrows a lot from It's A Wonderful Life but it hits all the right Crimbo notes without overdoing it 🎄🎄🎄

[hugoagogo]

Is family man the one with Steve carrell with his head on a pile of pancakes?

[hugoagogo]

I love it, though I know it's crap.
Someone up thread asked what other films I love:
Music and lyrics
27 dresses
13 going on 30

Maybe I will sit at home tomorrow and watch them all instead of going to work!?

[SatsukiKusakabe]

Family Man is great though.

[SatsukiKusakabe]

The elderly neighbour storyline is like it's from another film.

Jude Law should have man sized lump of smug twattery printed on his business cards, squoosh

He doesn't fit the role at all, it's like he doesn't even believe it himself. Everybody knows he isn't the guy who looks like a player and is actually lovely, including him.

[Autumnchill]

Bad Family Man! I forgot I've got this on DVD, love it at Christmas.

The Holiday, watch it only for the elderly neighbour

[pineappleeyes]

I love this film.

[squoosh]

Family Man is great though. Just the right amount of schmaltz.

[squoosh]

It's awful. Jude Law is a man sized lump of smug twattery in it (as he is in most things to be fair) and Kate Winslet is far too 'golly gosh I'm English and I'm frightfully in love with this rotter you see'.

And as for the very plain and rotund Jack Black kindly deigning to show his romantic affections to KW once he realises it's definitely over between him and his improbably hot ex. Puh-lease!

There are some nice scenes with her elderly neighbour though. Like when he tells her that she shouldn't be the supporting actress in her own life story. Or words to that effect.

[IamChipmunk]

I love it! I especially love Jude law in it!
I agree though that Jack Black isn't quite right in it. Definitely lacks chemistry with KW. He just doesn't really fit the role.

[Carneddai]

Its better than love actually but that's not really saying much!