The Holiday

I was looking forward to seeing The Holiday because it seemed like a very typical, but well-done, romantic comedy or chick flick. I wasn't disappointed, because it had all the ingredients of a well-done chick flick: endearing characters, compelling love interests, unrealistic situations, a happy ending. It was also a well-done chick flick because of the influence of the female writer-director, Nancy Meyers. Although I enjoyed the film, I have to say that some parts of it were very unrealistic, and I think this is partly because of the female influence - Meyers knew how to present a fantasy that would appeal to female viewers. The situation itself, that two women from LA and England would trade houses and find love in their respective locations, was pretty unrealistic, though a nice fantasy. The most unrealistic part for me, however, was Jude Law's character, who was kind of like every girl's dream. Cameron Diaz meets this gorgeous guy, who just seems like the typical party guy who sleeps around. However, he has strong feelings for her and she realizes that he's more than he seems, that he's actually deep and sensitive. His wife died and he's raising their two daughters on their own, and he even cries easily. These are all things a woman would dream of: a gorgeous man who is not what he seems, with two adorable daughters and a sensitive heart. However, it is not something that is likely to happen in real life. It makes a very appealing fantasy, and Meyers incorporates all the elements that a female audience would like.

However, there are other aspects of the film that are more realistic. Diaz's character has a successful Hollywood career, but her drive and her ambition have alienated her from her own emotions and made relationships difficult for her. I thought this was a very feminine perspective in showing her struggle between her need to be strong for her career, and how it is difficult for her to balance this with her personal life. I also thought Kate Winslet's character was pretty realistic, although her weepiness was a bit exaggerated and she was too much of a pushover. Her friendship with her old neighbor, however, was a nice touch, and something that I doubt a male writer would have thought to include. Helping someone else helped her feel better about herself, and her platonic friendship with him gave her the support she needed. The most memorable line to me was when he told her that she's a "leading lady, but for some reason [she] acts like a best friend." This was a new way for him to tell her to gain confidence, and I think it's advice that Meyers intended for all of her female viewers. It's also a funny way to make some fun of the romantic comedy genre. This film delivered exactly what it promised, a cheesy romantic comedy, but the female perspective, while giving it more of that cheesiness, also lent it a new point of view.