Metacritic reviews

The Holiday is the type of welcome diversion that only Meyers still seems to specialize -- a romantic comedy where Barbara Stanwyck and Rosalind Russell would have been just as natural as Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet and where the one liners fly like confetti.

A lavishly overstuffed gift basket of a movie.

It's formulaic but with a big heart.

The dialogue has a perky synthetic sheen, and with the exception of Diaz, Meyers brings out the best in her actors.

There is bound to be a large appreciative audience for this chick flick. But it might not be you.

Meyers can write a good zinger, and she has a knack for casting actors who not only look good in bed, but are talented enough to rise above the material and, in some cases, nearly transform it (save Diaz). But make no mistake: We're a long way here from Ben Hecht and Preston Sturges.

The Holiday is no vacation. Sloppy writing, an overindulgent editor, and poor casting have taken an intriguing premise and transformed it into an uneven mess.

His (Law's) is the standout performance, probably because it's quiet and reflective and nuanced amidst the flurries of relationship talk.

The Holiday is a 131-minute romantic comedy for those who, if they had their way, would still be watching "Love Actually."

Even with a wild card like Black desperately retooling his lines, there's nothing authentic or personal about The Holiday--it's as chilling as heart-warmers get.