"THE HOLIDAY" (2006) (Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Minor Heavy Minor Mild Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None None None Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Minor Mild Moderate Minor QUICK TAKE: Romantic Dramedy: Two women from different countries swap homes in hopes of getting away from their respective relationship issues. PLOT: For British newspaper columnist Iris (KATE WINSLET), her romantic life has been a constant yo-yo of emotions thanks to her coworker and former lover Jasper (RUFUS SEWELL). He's now engaged to someone else, but persists in acting as if he and Iris are still a couple, behavior that confuses and has her in a funk. Sharing her disdain for men at the moment is Amanda (CAMERON DIAZ), an American whose company creates movie trailers. While her business is a success, her love life is anything but, especially when her live-in boyfriend Ethan (EDWARD BURNS) finally confirms her suspicions that he has indeed been sleeping with another woman. Wanting to swear off men and needing to get away from it all, the two women meet in an online chat where they agree to swap homes for two weeks. Immediately jetting off, Iris arrives in Hollywood and is immediately overjoyed by her swanky new digs as well as meeting Hollywood screenwriting legend Arthur (ELI WALLACH) and his younger composer counterpart Miles (JACK BLACK). Across the pond, Amanda finds Iris' small and remote cottage quaint, but not exactly her style. Her decision to return, however, is interrupted when she meets Graham (JUDE LAW), Iris' brother who appears to her as a charming and handsome playboy. Seeing that he's intoxicated and probably won't remember her, she decides to sleep with him, a decision that results in both starting to have feelings for one another. As the two women get used to their new temporary surroundings as well as the new men in their lives -- not to mention Graham's young daughters, Sophie (MIFFY ENGLEFELD) and Olivia (EMMA PRITCHARD) -- they try to figure out what will make them happy. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they like romantic dramedies and/or are fans of anyone in the cast, they just might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For sexual content and some strong language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: CAMERON DIAZ plays an L.A. based businesswoman who runs her own company that makes movie trailers. Unable to cry since she was 15, she's upset upon learning that her live-in boyfriend (Ethan) cheated on her. Accordingly, she kicks him out and then decides to get away from it all by doing a house exchange with Iris. Arriving in England, she ends up sleeping with and then falling for Graham. She also drinks (once to the point of unconsciousness). KATE WINSLET plays an English newspaper copywriter who's been tormented for years that the love of her life (and coworker - Jasper) cheated on her and is engaged to someone else, but continues to string her on. Like Amanda, she decides to get away by spending two weeks in L.A. in Amanda's house. She befriends both Miles and especially Arthur, but must contend with Jasper repeatedly leading her on. She briefly uses strong profanity. JUDE LAW plays a single father and book editor who enjoys his time off from his young daughters by getting drunk at the local pub and then crashing at his sister's. That's where he meets Amanda with whom he sleeps first and then starts to fall for her. JACK BLACK plays a Hollywood film composer who takes a liking to Iris, but in a friendship sort of way. When his girlfriend cheats on him, however, his interest toward Iris turns romantic. He drinks and briefly uses strong profanity. ELI WALLACH plays a retired Hollywood screenwriter who Iris befriends. He comes out of his shell thanks to her help. He drinks some. EDWARD BURNS plays Amanda's live-in boyfriend who admits that he cheated on her and thus is kicked out by her. RUFUS SEWELL plays Iris' coworker and past lover who keeps stringing her on about how much he loves and misses her, despite being engaged to another woman. MIFFY ENGLEFELD and EMMA PRITCHARD plays Graham's adorable if somewhat precocious daughters. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this romantic dramedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 2 uses of the "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue is present, while sexual encounters occur off camera (making out is seen before one, and a couple is seen in bed after another, out of breath). Various characters drink (some to the point of intoxication), while there's brief smoking. Bad attitudes include people cheating on their significant others, resulting in a woman twice punching her now ex-boyfriend in the face. Guns and an explosion are shown in a movie trailer, while some behavior might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Finally, a character states his wife died two years earlier, while a woman states her parents divorced when she was a teenager. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE A comment is made about tears brought about by valium (or something like that). Iris holds a glass of champagne, as does Jasper later at a Christmas office party where others drink. After a bit of harrowing driving on the "wrong" side of the road in London (played for comedy), Amanda states that she needs a drink. We then see her drinking wine from the bottle in a store where she has more in her shopping cart. Amanda has wine in bed. Amanda has wine. Graham shows up intoxicated at his sister's place and informs Amanda that he's Iris' brother, is "pissed" (drunk), and often crashes at Iris' place when he's in that state. Graham and Amanda then have some brandy. Miscellaneous people have drinks in a pub where Amanda has wine. The next morning, Amanda acts as if she has a hangover and states that she's never had that much to drink. Graham jokingly replies that no one has. She then finds her bra downstairs and asks, "Did we?" (have sex). He says they didn't, she asks why, and he says he doesn't have sex with unconscious women. Iris and Arthur have beer in front of them in a restaurant where others also drink. Iris, Miles, Arthur, and others have wine, with Miles stating he's had too much. Amanda brings a bottle of wine over to Graham's house. Miles drinks after learning his girlfriend has been cheating on him. When he hears Iris' similar story, he hands the drink to her, saying she needs it more than he does. Iris opens some wine when Jasper unexpectedly shows up at Amanda's place. Miles, Iris, and Amanda hold glasses of champagne. BLOOD/GORE Graham shows up intoxicated at his sister's place, and thinking Amanda's voice is that of his sister, states that he'll "take a leak" all over her property if she doesn't let him in. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Amanda accuses Ethan of sleeping with another woman and he finally admits he did (after lying that he didn't). Jasper has a bad attitude in that he keeps leading Iris on (just using her) while he's engaged to another woman. Miles sees his girlfriend with another guy (on the sidewalk, nothing sexual occurs, although cheating is implied). FRIGHTENING SCENES Amanda grabs her chest during an esophageal spasm, but this played rather lightly and nothing else comes of that. GUNS/WEAPONS In a movie trailer that Amanda has created, we see machine guns and handguns being fired, as well as an explosion. We see some of that again later. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Oh f*ck," "Well f*ck, you need this more than I do," "Holy sh*t," "Got into her knickers" (sexual), "I never realized how pathetic you are," "Shut up," "You stinker," "Screw(ed) up," "Nuts" (crazy), "I'm just flipping out a bit," "Loser," "Take a leak," "Pissed" (drunk), what sounded like "Old cocker," "Schmuck," "I must be temporarily nuts," "Gonna be a real ball buster," "This is a bitch" (about a relationship), "What a complete ass I am," "Boob graze" and "You've got to get the hell out." Upset about Jasper announcing his engagement to another woman, Iris purposefully inhales gas from her stove's burner, but then realizes what she's doing and stops. Graham's girls have him do his "napkin head" routine where he puts a napkin over his face, glasses over that, and acts silly, including pretending a spoon is a cigarette (although he tells the girls that smoking is bad). A young girl playfully belches. Miles does various vocal riffs while imitating some movie scores. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 2 "f" words (1 partially muffled), 1 "s" word, 5 slang terms for sex (variations of "shag" as well as "schtupping" and "got into her knickers"), 1 slang term using male genitals ("pr*ck," while another, "c*cker," isn't used in that context), 1 possible one using female genitals (what sounded like "c*nt"), 2 for breasts ("boobs"), 3 asses, 2 hells, 1 bugger, 6 uses each of "Oh God" and "Oh my God," 3 of "God" and 1 use each of "For God's sakes" and "My God." SEX/NUDITY We see some brief, passionate (and clothed) kissing in a clip from a movie Miles is scoring. We hear Iris' voice-over narration about different types of love, including the kind that can be found just for the night (as we see separate footage of Graham smiling at a young woman in a bar). Iris and her female friend comment on the former's relationship with Jasper. The friend asks, "You were shagging him, weren't you?" and that he then "shagged" someone else, with Iris then adding that's when "I stopped shagging him." We see Ethan in a t-shirt and boxers on Amanda's sofa (due to them having relationship issues). Amanda accuses Ethan of sleeping with another woman and he repeatedly says he didn't. He then comments about their relationship problems, including that there haven't been any conversations about sex because he can't remember when they last had it. She then says that nobody has time for sex. She then again accuses him of sleeping with someone else and he finally admits to it. A comment is made about Jasper "schtupping" his 24-year-old receptionist. We see a magazine cover featuring a woman in a low-cut top (from a distance). Iris shows a little cleavage. Graham and Amanda do some "test" kissing and keep trying that (including some brief, but passionate activity). She eventually states that since she's going to be leaving soon and that he won't remember her the next day (due to being drunk), they should have sex. However, she informs him that she isn't very good at it, adding that's what Ethan said. Yet, she then asks how bad she could be at that since sex is pretty basic. Graham then asks how she feels about foreplay and she replies that it's overrated. Graham smiles in response and tells her that she's already better than she thinks she is. Sex is then implied but not seen. Afterwards, a satisfied Graham tells her that her ex-boyfriend is extremely mistaken about her. Amanda imagines a movie trailer about her life that shows her and Graham in bed, with him partially rolling on top of her and the two kissing. On the phone with Iris, Jasper asks if she's wearing that red bikini that unties in the back. Miscellaneous people have drinks in a pub where Amanda has wine. The next morning, Amanda acts as if she has a hangover and states that she's never had that much to drink. Graham jokingly replies that no one has. She then finds her bra downstairs and asks, "Did we?" (have sex). He says they didn't, she asks why, and he says he doesn't have sex with unconscious women. About going out on a first date after already having had sex, Graham states that since they did have sex, maybe they can bend the first date rules. After Amanda states that sex makes everything complicated, even when you don't have it, Graham jokingly replies that's why you should have it. Arthur's friend states that Arthur's wife had the greatest laugh. Arthur mishears that and asks if the man said she had a great "ass." The friend corrects him, but then adds that the wife did have "a great ass." We see Amanda in a small but tall bathtub in Iris' cottage, but we don't see any nudity. Amanda thinks Graham has another woman in his place, but that turns out to be his young daughters. Amanda states that she's just someone Graham had sex with once and slept with twice, followed by him repeating that back to her. Iris shows a little cleavage in a swimsuit, and while training in the pool with Arthur, he slyly goes underwater to take a peak at her (we don't see his view). Iris ends up on the phone with Graham and Amanda (on separate lines). As she switches between them, she thinks she tells Graham that she can't believe he had sex with the woman in his house, but Amanda heard that. Iris then switches the line and chastises him for immediately getting into her knickers, but Amanda heard that as well. Graham and Amanda passionately kiss. Iris shows a little cleavage. We see Graham and Amanda out of breath in bed, side by side, presumably after sex (he's shirtless, she's in her bra). After some chatting, she climbs on top of him in bed, with more kissing. Miles reaches in front of Iris to grab a condiment and apparently brushes her clothed breast, prompting him to apologize (in a half-joking way) about the "accidental boob graze." Miles and Iris briefly kiss. Iris shows some cleavage. SMOKING A miscellaneous person smokes in one scene. Graham's girls have him do his "napkin head" routine where he puts a napkin over his face, glasses over that, and acts silly, including pretending a spoon is a cigarette (although he tells the girls that smoking is bad). TENSE FAMILY SCENES Amanda states that her parents split up when she was 15 and she hasn't been able to cry since then. Graham states that his wife died two years ago, leaving him as a single dad raising two young daughters. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Relationships and how men and women react differently in them, as well as cheating. Amanda grabs her chest during an esophageal spasm, but this played rather lightly and nothing else comes of that. The comment that stress for women causes them to age. People who exchange homes for vacation. Amanda states that her parents split up when she was 15 and she hasn't been able to cry since then. Casual sex, including that occurring under the influence of alcohol. VIOLENCE Mad at Ethan for sleeping with someone else, Amanda twice throws a shoe at him. When he finally admits that he did sleep with that other woman, Amanda comes out and twice punches him in the face, sending him to the ground (played lightly). In a movie trailer that Amanda has created, we see machine guns and handguns being fired, as well as an explosion. We see some of that again later. Amanda accidentally hits her head on a low overpass while descending the stairs in Iris' cottage. Iris pushes Jasper backwards out of the door (he doesn't fall) as she tells him he has to leave. Reviewed December 2, 2006 / Posted December 8, 2006

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.

All Rights Reserved,
©1996-2012 Screen It, Inc.