While on vacation, Johnny Case met a girl, Julia Seton, and decided to marry her. Upon arriving at her home, Johnny is surprised to find out Julia lives in a mansion, since her father, Edward, is a rich banker, and isn't inclined that her daughter marries an "ordinary", working class man. Julia's sister Linda is much more free-spirited and thus actually connects with Johnny even better than the uptight Julia. The enagagement is announced at a New Year's Eve party. Upon hearing that Johnny wants to take a few days off from work to think about his role in life, and that he plans to sail away at the evening, Julia breaks up the engagement. Linda runs after Johnny in the ship, and they kiss.
One of George Cukor's lesser films is still a fine fun due to a competent screenplay and a tight rhythm, whereas the two leading actors Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn play these role as enthusiastically as if they are in an excellent film. "Holiday" is objectively a good film, yet it needed more snappy dialogues, ingenuity or inspiration to edge itself into something permanent, since its central theme of a clash between free-spirited individualism and rigid conformity, as well as advocacy for independence wasn't articulated as well as it could have been, and some moments of 'empty walk' reduce its quality. Even though most of the dialogues are rather routine or straightfroward, some of the best ones have spark and charm, whether comical ("If you ask me, this is the worst case of downright rudeness I've seen!" - "And has someone asked you?"; "You think talk is all it was?" - "I think it was less than that!") or emotional ("Johnny, when two people love each other as much as you do, anything that keeps them apart must be wrong"). The authors and actors seem to be more energetic about the movie than its actual final result warrants it, yet some of its best moments could have easily fit into the two best Grant-Hepburn comedies, "Bringing Up Baby" and "The Philadelphia Story".
Grade:++
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