One Lovely Christmas Holiday

There are a few things I am a sucker for in movies. One would be a good romantic comedy, not the typical "chick flick," but the romantic comedy that anyone can appreciate, even a guy. Another thing would be a movie that delivers perfect performance by all involved, this includes a remarkable script and score. The final thing would be, a movie that makes me feel that I can totally identify with the characters, ones that can remind you of your own life.

I have mentioned more than once that I believe there is a formula to making a successful romantic comedy. There has to be conflict, a break of the relationship because of that conflict and finally a resolution and a happily ever after. There is one movie in recent years that achieves this supremely and it is "The Holiday." The script was written only after the four main stars agreed to do the movie. Nancy Meyers wrote this movie and the four main characters in it especially for Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, and Jack Black and it shows. Each of the characters fit their own actor perfectly. Also the score of the movie was written by Hans Zimmer, he writes a beautiful score that fits every moment so perfectly. Now I can't say that this movie is without flaws, there is no movie that is absolutely perfect. There are production flaws and a few continuity flaws but if you are not specifically looking for them you would never notice. The movie's story outweighs all these in the long run.

Amanda (Diaz) is a movie trailer maker living in L.A., when she breaks with her boyfriend she decides to go on a trip over the Christmas holiday. She logs on to a vacation website and soon finds Iris (Winslet), a newspaper writer that has been in a relationship for several years with a man that does not love her back. Both women switch houses and soon find they can find love even without looking for it. They also in the process find out more about themselves than they ever expected. Now with that out of the way I can get to the good stuff, what helps to make this movie so appealing. Amanda, being a successful movie trailer maker, sees the events unfolding in her life as a movie trailer. Iris meets the man that lives next to Amanda, who is a retired film writer. He convinces Iris that she is worth while and a leading lady by recommending several (a whole list) of movies with all of these powerhouse women in it. Jack Black also delivers a great performance in this movie as a movie score writer. He provides a light heart and sweet side to this movie, and relates all things in life to movie scores. I love all of these factors of this movie, because if you have worked in production at all you will find that your mind gets wrapped up in it. Every time you see a new house you think, this would be great on film. You here a story and you think what an awesome script idea. Or even music you think that would be perfect for this type of scene.

I highly recommend anyone that loves romantic comedies, loves movies, or just anybody really to see this movie. It is a well written and beautiful movie, I have to thank Nancy Meyers for writing it and I hope she will provide us with many, many more.