What We Love: The Holiday

There’s an endless discussion about what counts as a Christmas movie. Does it have to be about Christmas, like Home Alone? What about movies that are merely set at Christmas, like Die Hard and the Shane Black oeuvre? Is it enough if people watch it around Christmas, like The Lord of the Rings films?

The Holiday is an easy “yes” to all of the above.

There are two story lines. First we have Iris, a marriage columnist¹ in England, whose desperately needs to get away from her toxic ex. Then there’s Amanda, a Hollywood workaholic who just kicked her partner out of her Hollywood and needs to get away from LA. They meet on a housing exchange website, and make the spur of the moment decision to swap places for Christmas.

That’s right, you get two fish out of water stories for the price of one. They’re different, tho: Iris instantly falls in love with Hollywood, whereas Amanda has a tougher time adjusting the English countryside. Fortunately, Iris’s older brother drunkenly bangs on her door late at night, and their instant chemistry powers the rest of the movie.

The AV Club has a feature about how it’s a romantic comedy about romantic comedies, and yes, they have a point. To me, this is a fun, endlessly rewatchable movie. I love the little details, like the landscaper shaking his head “no” when Amanda asks her partner if he was cheating. I love how Amanda’s subconscious expresses itself via fake movie trailers. I love how Jack Black plays the nicest guy ever with puppy dog energy. I love how neither relationship will probably last at the end of the film, but that’s alright.

I just love this movie, y’all.