HOLLAND (2025) – Another underwhelming Nicole Kidman movie
Rating: ⭐ 1/2
Nicole Kidman, one of Hollywood’s most prolific actors, stars in the latest quirky film, Holland. The title may be misleading, as the film is not set in the Netherlands but rather in the small town of Holland, Michigan. Known for its Dutch-inspired appearance and annual Tulip festival, the town provides a unique backdrop for the unfolding drama.
Holland follows the story of Nancy, portrayed by Kidman, a seemingly content married woman with a young son. Suspicions arise when Nancy begins to believe her husband, played by Matthew Macfadyen (of TV’s Succession), is having an affair during his frequent business trips. Enlisting the help of a friend, played by arthouse actor Gale Garcia Bernal, Nancy’s investigation leads to an improbable relationship, introducing a subplot that aims to differentiate the film from its predecessors.
Despite the filmmakers’ efforts to infuse the narrative with a twisted discovery, the journey to the film’s climax feels mundane and predictable. Like the artificially created Dutch references in the town of Holland, the characters’ behaviours and dialogues often appear unnatural, creating a disconnection from reality. There is something that feels artificial about the whole thing. I thought perhaps this was going to be another one of those Stepford Wives rip off where Kidman’s character finds out that she isn’t real. I guess this presumption is not too far off given the film’s rather abrupt and open-ended conclusion. It is also the sort of ending that the writers probably think is very smart, but in effect would make most viewers feel like they have just wasted their time watching the whole damn movie. You have been warned.
Ultimately, Holland caters primarily to Kidman’s devoted fans. However, even they may find themselves overwhelmed by her pervasive presence and left with the sentiment that “enough is enough.” This film, in its attempt to reinvent a familiar plot, falls short of delivering a compelling and coherent narrative, leaving much to be desired.
