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Love across The Pond
THE HOLIDAY
Directed by Nancy Meyers
Certificate 12A
WRITER PG Wodehouse had a simple story trick that made up the thread for many of his short stories and novellas. It came from his own experience of moving to New York as a young man. The plot would go something like this – a well-off American gal would fall for a blue-blooded Brit, but the cultural differences between the two countries would lead to some kind of misunderstanding that was, of course, all cleared up before a dotty aunt pokes her nose in and ensures the engagement is off.
This is part of a longstanding belief that Americans and Brits are some how predisposed to fall in love with each other, and this notion rears its head again in this romantic comedy The Holiday.
It does what Wodehouse enjoys best – throwing together unlikely looking Anglo-American couples, flagging up the rough course of true love, and then letting it all end happily ever after.
And although there are turgid moments, The Holiday stars an accomplished cast made up of Jack Black, Jude Law, Kate Winslett and Cameron Diaz. They are all players who can easily handle the simple requirements of this simple story.
They often seem to be going through the paces – except Law, who displays a previously unseen ability for soft comedy. He swoons in all the right places and has a constant look of deprecation on his face as he smarms and charms all who come into contact with him.
Amanda (Diaz) and Iris (Winslett, pictured) trade houses for the Christmas holidays. Both have just staggered out the other side of horrible relationships – and both are destined to find new love as they try to escape unhappy times.
Miles (Black) and Graham (Law) are the lucky fellows who turn up on doorsteps in Surrey and Hollywood respectively.
Winslett’s Iris is a bit too stereotypically English in a Bridget Jones kind of way – full of neurotic thoughts and self-hatred – while Law is a perfect ambassador for English adult malehood.
The ending is of course happy, but that’s what this type of film is all about.
It is light hearted and has enough laughs to make it trundle by in a not too taxing way.
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