The Holiday 2006

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: This melding of comedic minds is one of the better holiday gifts we've received, cinematically speaking. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: Winslet, who's never done a Hollywood romantic comedy before, turns out to be a natural, blushing prettily and smiling so broadly the camera seems ready to embrace her. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: You wonder if [director] Meyers was so focused on establishing her main characters as frustrated, lonely and wanting that she forgot about the 'interesting' part. Read more

Christy Lemire, Associated Press: It can also be undeniably charming, so you may as well just check your cynicism at the door and surrender. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: The problem is that happy endings this strident and overextended begin to seem somewhat desperate. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: ...The story goes on at untoward length. Read more

Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle: The Holiday suffers from a dreary predictability. Read more

Scott Tobias, AV Club: There's nothing authentic or personal about The Holiday -- it's as chilling as heart-warmers get. Read more

Bill Muller, Arizona Republic: Give yourself a holiday and avoid this movie. Read more

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: The Holiday is a lark, with pretensions to be more. Read more

Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times: Like a magic trick in reverse, The Holiday reveals the mechanics of the formula while trying to keep up the illusion. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: Sappy, sugary, star-driven, The Holiday is a confection right off the Hollywood assembly line. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: Obviously intended as a romantic throwback to the good old days of Hollywood, The Holiday instead comes off as a self-indulgent, insipid piece of seasonal trash. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Eat up, chick-flickaholics! Even if you know it's not good for you. Read more

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: The Holiday is as advertised: a respite from everyday demands and acquired cynicism. Read more

Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly: By the time The Holiday entered its final stretch, I was wishing I could perform a house swap on this whole movie and settle down in the comfy environs of The Philadelphia Story instead. Read more

Jan Stuart, Newsday: The actors, pros one and all, operate in some weird, bubbly dimension that is someone's notion of how people behave in romantic comedies. Read more

Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger: The movie, which runs two hours-plus, has its highs and lulls, but the charismatic cast offsets flawed storytelling. Read more

Jack Mathews, New York Daily News: The Holiday is a harmlessly cheery confection. Read more

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: Any holiday movie with a dollop of sweetness and a touch of wistful deserves a little slack at this time of year. This one is pleasant enough, but The Holiday won't be one you'll remember after the eggnog has worn off. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Sloppy writing, an overindulgent editor, and poor casting have taken an intriguing premise and transformed it into an uneven mess. Read more

Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com: Meyers' movies would be far less offensive if they were simply shiny, shallow entertainments. But they always read like pronouncements, monitor readings of how 'real' women think and feel. Read more

Dana Stevens, Slate: The characters pace and putter around in the story like animals building their nests, and by the time they finally settle down with their mates, we have a grudging affection for them. Read more

Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times: ...The surprises would be surprises only if this is, like, your fourth movie ever. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: The Holiday, like the holidays, will require some girding up, and is best met halfway with a self-immunizing smile. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: ...It's the women who come out the worst in Meyers's sexist worldview, where men are hopeless and women are helpless. Read more

Anna Smith, Time Out: A leisurely feelgood rom-com. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: If you're willing to embrace a bit of corniness for the sake of some incisive humor, a few poignant moments and enjoyable scenarios, make time for The Holiday. Read more

Justin Chang, Variety: Lusciously crafted at every level, from Dean Cundey's flattering cinematography to the even more flattering selection of L.A. and U.K. locations. Read more

Scott Foundas, Village Voice: Like her near namesake, Meyers has quite a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: This overproduced romantic comedy doesn't even qualify as fluff; it's flat, featureless plastic. Read more