MovieChat Forums > Trading Christmas (2011) Discussion > Similar to 'The Holiday'

Similar to 'The Holiday'

posted 12 years ago by Daisies5060
12 replies | jump to latest

I'm watching this movie as I write this, and I can't help but ask. Does anyone see a similarity between this movie and "The Holiday?" I'm not sure if maybe "The Holiday" was based off the book that Debbie Macomber wrote, but I really do see similarities.

Two people trade houses for the holidays. In "Trading Christmas" it is a man and a woman, rather than two women like in "The Holiday," but still, a very similar situation. Also, two of the four main characters are siblings. In "Trading Christmas," it is the two brothers. In "The Holiday," it is a brother and a sister.

Yes, there are lots of differences. The characters are from very different situations and demographics in each film. But it seems odd to me that two movies would:
1) Be Christmas movies
2) Use the same situation of trading houses for the holidays via an online site
3) Feature four main characters, with generally equal screen time, who fall in love through the house switch
4) Have two of these main characters be siblings, thereby connecting all four characters into one family

Am I crazy? It's too similar for me. I know that Debbie Macomber wrote her book before the other film was even released. Did "The Holiday" rip off her book?

[–] kmp206 12 years ago

I saw some similarities to the "The Holiday" also but it wasn't as heavy handed though with the couples though they just kinda came together. I am not sure how similar her book is, since I haven't read any of her novels.

[–] EnglishDoc 12 years ago

Absolutely! I said the same thing about 5 minutes in and the similarities became more and more pronounced all the way through the ending, which was almost identical. I love The Holiday, but I have to say that I actually enjoyed this one better. The humor was more subtle and the movie was very well-acted, especially for a TV movie.

[–] kristen1165 10 years ago

I said the same thing just by reading the description on the guide. I'm not sure about the book and when it was written, but it seems to be modeled after The Holiday. The characters are different, yes, but they couldn't give them identical backgrounds to the first movie or there would be no point in making it.

[–] LandOLaLa 12 years ago

I thought the same thing and even though I really liked The Holiday, I think I liked this more, surprisingly!

[–] CranberriAppl 12 years ago

I saw the similarities, but I enjoyed both movies. Love The Holiday and watch it more times than I like to admit, but I thought this was a good TV version. I liked that it wasn't a complete knockoff.

I loved all the main characters. The only one I couldn't place was the girl with Tom Cavanaugh?

Brad:You stabbed me,dude!
Max:I stabbed you,dude!

[–] clacton0 11 years ago

I was thinking this however Trading Christmas was still an OK film.
I gave it a 5 out of 10 and it passed the time away when there is nothing to watch on Saturday night TV.
It was on Five here.

www.youtube.com/eastangliauk

[–] HelloMoto007 10 years ago

It is The Holiday which some minor changes.

[–] jmatrixrenegade 10 years ago

Well, I see some connections, but like this one, while didn't like the other.

[–] first-things-first 9 years ago

Watching now, and I liked "The Holidy" better, but not by much. I do agree with the poster that the humor isn't as heavy handed in this movie.

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

[–] barry70 9 years ago

The Holiday sucks. I much preferred Trading Christmas.