The Holiday | Blogmas Day 12

Happy Blogmas Day 12!

If you've been reading my blog for a while, particularly my Blogmases, which I do every year, then you'll know that Blogmas Day 12 is my birthday! I'm writing this in advance, but happy future birthday to me!

Anyway, back to the point of the post, which is a review of a film that I only saw for the first time this month. It's a Christmas movie, so it's perfect for a Blogmas post!

Two women, English girl Iris (Kate Winslet) and American girl Amanda (Cameron Diaz) both find themselves single and sad for the holidays. So when they get the option to switch houses for Christmas, they both jump at the chance, with Iris moving into Amanda's LA mansion and Amanda settling into Iris' small cottage. While out of their comfort zones, they discover just what life, and love, is all about.

To me, this was a really original, intriguing idea. Although it's not uncommon for Christmas movies to feature two people basically swapping lives, the idea of this taking place through a house swap adds an interesting dynamic to the film, while still allowing the characters to experience that fish-out-of-water feeling that allows the audience to really get behind the story. You as the audience get to experience the newness of these locations along with the characters themselves.

Speaking of the locations, this is one of those movies where the locations become characters in their own right. They each have their pros and cons, and immediately help you to understand the two women's personalities. One of the best ways to get to know them is by looking through their homes.

One of the best things about this film is that there is instantaneous chemistry between the two main couples from both of their first meetings. You believe in their possible romances right from the beginning.

But this means different things for the different couples. One of the relationships is a slowburn, in the sense that the couple don't get together right away, while the other is a fastburn. With the quicker relationship, it's so important that you see this chemistry between them from the beginning, because if the audience doesn't feel the instant chemistry, then a whole section of the film doesn't work. Thankfully, for this film, it does.

There is a particularly interesting use of film trailers within the film (as making these trailers is Amanda's job). While they are original, they slightly pull you out of the story and remind you that you are, in fact, watching a film, when that might be something that you want to forget, in favour of just falling into the story.

Overall, this film shows two epic original love stories wrapped in one undoubtedly Christmassy package. It's heartwarming and magical, while reminding you exactly who you should be spending Christmas with.

7/10

It's 13 days until Christmas!

Come back tomorrow for Blogmas day 13!