The reviews were justified. It was terrible. It was the kind of rom-com that gets rom-coms a bad name, and this makes me cross. It's not as if there aren't some good ones out there. My two recent favourites have been The Big Sick (which sounds revolting, I know, but don't let the title put you off) and one for teenagers called To All the Boys I've Loved Before (also recommended by my brother.)
The one I watched was an hour too long and needed a rewrite by someone like the late great Nora Ephron, who understood romantic comedy and knew how to write intelligent funny dialogue. I watched this film in three bursts because I was so tired and because is was sooooo loooonnnngggg. Ugh.
So why, you ask, did I keep watching?
Because of Jude Law, who I have heard of but never seen before, and who was so yummy I couldn't believe he was real. I was in a swoon the whole time he was on screen.
But I kept puzzling why four such successful actors had agreed to be in such awful codswallop. The money, I guess. They were Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black (an unappealing romantic lead) and Cameron Diaz. Ms Diaz had the opposite effect on me that Jude Law had, which was a big problem as these two were paired up, so every time JL had a scene, the awful ditzy and unconvincing character played by CD was also on screen. I don't know if she is always like that, but I couldn't stand her. She was the human equivalent of sugar pink.
The film? It's called The Holiday. There was probably a decent film in there somewhere, but it needed ruthless cutting and a complete rewrite of the dialogue between CD and JL, and actually, CD's character needed transforming. And for my personal taste I'd replace CD with another actress (sic) and replace Jack Black with someone attractive because he is just not romantic lead material.
You may think I'm being harsh, but as a genuine aficionado of the rom-com genre, and as a writer who has been wrestling with the writing of a recalcitrant novel for two years (my fifth novel), and who has also tried her best at screenwriting, I do know what I'm talking about. The last time I trashed a film on the blog was in June 2010, so I think I can be forgiven. Of course, I'm really cross about something else, but I'm sure you have sufficient political angst in your life already, and don't need any more from me.
Here's a list of rom-coms I approve of
Top Hat
The Philadelphia Story
Charade
When Harry Met Sally
Sleepless in Seattle
Tootsie
Crossing Delancey
Pretty Woman
Four Weddings and a Funeral
My Best Friend's Wedding
Moonstruck
While You Were Sleeping
The Truth About Cats and Dogs
The Big Sick
Finding Your Feet (though it has its faults)
It's Complicated
All the Boys I've Loved Before
I'm sure I've left something out. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
