The Holiday

"It's Christmas Eve and we are going to go celebrate being young and being alive."

Two women, one from the United States and one from the United Kingdom, swap homes at Christmas time after bad breakups with their boyfriends. Each woman finds romance with a local man but realizes that the imminent return home may end the relationship.

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Peter McGinn

Peter McGinn@narrator56

January 17, 2024

There is a lot I like about this movie. The script is witty and there is good chemistry between the prospective couples, although it takes a while to develop with Amanda and Graham due to their awkward and clunky start. The old guy Arthur and the two children also add to the depth of the story.

My only real issue was their deploying that awkward rom-com device when two characters have sex first and then fall in love. The movie does a fair job of recovering from the lustful beginning, but I can’t help but think there could have been a more creative way to make the relationship awkward and in need of recovery.

But maybe it is just me, overall I liked the movie and, even though I don’t think I will watch it again, it was entertaining.