Don't you love symmetry? Recently I wrote an article about the best home exchange movie ever made. That would be "The Holiday". At the time I blithely asserted that "The Holiday" was the best home exchange movie simply because (I thought) it was the only home exchange movie.
Home exchange maven Kate set the record straight. There is another home exchange movie, "Tara Road", that was adapted from a book. Curious, I ordered the book. The writing was not involving. I was also turned off by the labored premise of the home exchange itself: a woman whose husband has left her because their son died calls a real estate agent in Ireland to ask him to set up a home exchange.
The last time I checked, real estate brokers sell or rent homes. They don't arrange the swap of accommodations where no money changes hands. The two women agree on a house exchange in about 30 seconds. If the writing had been tolerable I might have read on, but I tried several times to get past the first few pages and just couldn't do it.
When the movie was broadcast unedited on a premium movie channel I decided to record it. Finally we would be able to determine which of the two home exchange movies is the best and which is (by elimination) the worst.
It was no contest.
"The Holiday" felt believable, probably due to the input of the home exchange club owners consulted by the movie makers. It isn't deathless cinema but it was enjoyable enough. The actors were attractive and capable performers.
"Tara Road", by contrast, is among the worst movies I have ever seen. The characters are cut-out stereotypes. The plot is boring, repetitive and completely unbelievable. The actors who don't come across as hammy are just phoning it in. The ending is completely unbelievable. "Tara Road" is a crummy adaptation of a terrible book.
But that isn't the worst of it.
"The Holiday" enticed thousands of people to try home exchange. It was almost certainly a factor in the explosive growth HomeExchange.com has experienced in the past few years. "Tara Road" would certainly have the opposite effect on anyone unfortunate enough to watch it.
The movie's plot centers around the dissolving marriages of both protagonists. Considering that these women arranged the swap against their husbands' wishes, it's no wonder their marriages are on the rocks. Both women have lots of guests over to the exchange homes, use precious personal items not meant for exchangers, throw parties without the hosts' permission, and so on.
The Irish exchanger goes through her host's underwear drawer, tries on her clothing, invites the nosy neighbors to poke around and throws the American exchanger's antique carnival glass vases at her own dastardly husband when he comes to visit, breaking them. Said dastardly hubby sells the couple's home while the swapper is still using it (I'm having a flashback).
Despite the creepy Irish woman trashing her host's home, the American exchanger saves the day by buying back the Irish exchange home. Or something. Having soldiered through this hideous movie I just couldn't finish watching this pat and extremely unlikely ending.
So everything worked out in the end. "The Holiday" isn't a work of undying genius, but it is the best (of two) home exchange movies ever made. On the other hand, "Tara Road" excels -- at being excruciatingly horrible. It isn't just the worst home exchange movie (of two) it's one of the worst movies of all times! So we have two home-exchange themed movies that are special in their own ways. Controversy resolved -- until the next home exchange movie comes out.
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