DVD Release Date:  March 13, 2007
Theatrical Release Date:  December 8, 2006
Rating:  PG-13 (sexual content, some rough language )
Genre:  Romantic comedy
Run Time:  138 min.
Director:  Nancy Meyers
Actors:  Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Eli Wallach, Edward Burns, Rufus Sewell, Shannyn Sossamon, John Krasinski

Much to the chagrin of the chick-flick faithful, the holiday season is usually reserved for movies of the more serious variety (think Mel Gibson’s “Apocalypto” or the upcoming “The Good Shepherd”) or those with wide-range family appeal (like “Happy Feet” and “Charlotte’s Web”). But nestled somewhere in between, sometimes there's a feel-good movie that’s all about the ups and downs of falling in love.

Cue “The Holiday.”

Unlike warm and fuzzy holiday fare like “While You Were Sleeping” or “Maid in Manhattan,” this movie actually delivers far more depth than one might expect. For the currently unattached or those who’ve been there before, “The Holiday” is heartwarming, relatable and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny – even if the premise itself requires a little suspension of disbelief and includes a strong worldly view of sexuality.

In true Nancy Meyers (“What Women Want,”  “Something’s Gotta Give”) fashion, complete with easy-on-the-eyes actors and even more breathtaking scenery, we’re introduced to Iris (Kate Winslet), a lonely newspaper writer in London who is “head over heels” for the newly engaged Jasper (Rufus Sewell). But despite the fact that he’s about to be married, Jasper still calls her incessantly, which wrecks havoc on her already frail heart.  

Then across the pond, there’s workaholic Amanda (Cameron Diaz), who’s having a few relationship troubles of her own. As the successful owner of a business that edits movie trailers, Amanda doesn’t have much time for love and eventually gets her live-in boyfriend Ethan (Edward Burns) to admit he’s cheating on her.
 
Realizing that she needs a break from her life’s frantic pace, Amanda searches online for the perfect, quiet vacation destination for the upcoming holiday. And low and behold, with a few clicks of her mouse, she locates a home-exchange service and eventually gets in touch with Iris, the owner of the quaint English cottage she spotted in cyberspace. Later, after a few minutes of friendly instant messaging, the girls decide to swap houses, cars – the works. And before you know it, Amanda’s in London, and Iris makes her way to L.A. for Christmas.