REVIEWS

Treat yourself to The Holiday

Seeing The Holiday, a new film written and directed by Nancy Meyers, is a wonderful holiday gift to give to yourself.

The film stars Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet as women who meet online and agree to exchange homes for the holidays.

Cameron Diaz's character, Amanda, creates movie trailers. She owns a gated Beverly Hills mansion. Kate Winslet plays Iris, a British journalist who lives in a country cottage straight off of a greeting card. Both Amanda and Iris are running from terrible relationships with men.

When Amanda arrives in the United Kingdom, she is visited by Iris's brother, Graham. He is drunker than a skunk, needs a bathroom badly, and wants to stay the night!

Iris, now at Amanda's LA pad, is having her own adventures. She makes friends with an elderly neighbor who is a retired screenwriter. The screenwriter (veteran actor Eli Wallach) and Iris develop a wonderful inter-generational friendship. At 91, Eli Wallach knocks 'em dead with this role!

Iris also meets Miles, a very nice film composer, played by Jack Black. It is this writer's opinion that this role will turn Jack Black's career in a new direction. He is just wonderful as Miles.

Yes, this film has a happy ending. Some people may find the film like a Harlequin novel but for holiday fare at the movies, 2006-2007, this movie outshines the competition.

Sandra Pianin is a freelance writer and reviewer who lives in New York City. She is a frequent contributor to ladies-room.net and a new book reviewer for newsblaze.com.