I watched this twice in two days which should give you an inkling of how much I adore it. The Holiday has 2 parallel story lines, the first(with Cameron Diaz) of which is stronger. Cameron Diaz completely steals the show, bringing her quirky(which carried There's Something About Mary) to the next level.
She obviously toned up for this film, and justifies the "Barbie" comment what with her fantastic hair and wardrobe. The movie is incredibly easy on the eyes, and you fall in love first with the setting(gorgeous LA home) and then the cast. It has all the ingredients: the sudden twist(Jude's history), the heartbreaking triumph of the underdog (the scriptwriter gets his night), the complete relatable-ness(Iris stands up for the 60% of women out there stuck on pesky men). Despite the completely predictable plot which is a turn-off if you read it on a DVD cover, you find yourself wanting to believe and engage with what's occuring on the screen. The ending is no fairytale but what happens in real life when you get really, really lucky. Different but as good as Bridget Jones(which is my #1 fave). 8 stars?