"The Holiday"

Last night a couple of girlfriends and I went to see the movie The Holiday.

I was in the mood for some fluffy holiday romance, and I definitely got it.

I was delighted to encounter a few surprises as well, though. I'll try not to reveal too many spoilers.

In England, Iris (played by Kate Winslet) has been treated very shabbily by a former beau. She desperately needs to escape from her life for a brief stint.

Coincidentally, in Los Angeles, Amanda (played by Cameron Diaz) has just kicked her cheating boyfriend out of her massive L.A. home. She also feels the need to get away.

The two decide to swap homes for two weeks.

Although neither is even remotely interested in romance, of course it finds them in the forms of Jack Black (for Iris in L.A.) and Jude Law (for Amanda in England).

I must mention the character of Arthur Abbott, played by Eli Wallach. Arthur is a retired Hollywood screenwriter who is an L.A. neighbour of Iris, and who becomes one of her best friends. The relationship between the two of them is a charming surprise, and it adds depth and dimension to a movie that could easily be otherwise flat.

Another delightful surprise is an interesting twist to Jude Law's character. I'll say no more about this, as I don't want to spoil the surprise for those of you who haven't yet seen the movie. If you have seen it, though, you know of which I write.

One last captivating curveball was the acting of Jack Black. My boys love Jack Black because of his appearances in shows like The School of Rock, Nacho Libre, and King Kong. Me - not so much. In this movie, however, he is amusing and adorable.

Just about the only thing I didn't like about this film I hesitate to mention, because it makes me sound petty. I found much of the relationship between Cameron Diaz and Jude Law difficult to take. The two of them are simply too attractive to be real. It's as if the film was air-brushed to achieve perfection, especially in those scenes where there is lengthy wide-eyed emoting back and forth. I mean - honestly - how can "ordinary" people possibly relate?

This is definitely a "chick flic" that regularly travels over into the "date movie" sector. I think guys would get a kick out of Jack Black's character and - to a certain extent - Jude Law's character, as well.

Well worth seeing.