Nicole Kidman Shines in "Holland," But Can’t Save This Patchy Black Comedy
Alright, let's talk about Holland , the latest black comedy featuring Nicole Kidman. Now, if there's one thing we know about Kidman, it's that she never stops working—three movies last year alone, plus major streaming projects like Expats and The Perfect Couple . And here she is again, taking on the role of Nancy Vandergroot, a seemingly ordinary homemaker from Holland, Michigan.
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The film, set in the early 2000s—yes, think chunky desktop computers and classic Nokia 3310s—follows Nancy as she starts suspecting her mild-mannered husband, played by Matthew Macfadyen, of having an affair. He’s an ophthalmologist who attends a few too many “eyewear conferences,” and let’s just say, Nancy isn’t buying it.
At first, Holland sets itself up with a Fargo -esque tone, mixed with a bit of Todd Haynes’s Far from Heaven . Nancy, much like Julianne Moore’s character in that film, is trapped in a life of quiet desperation—knitting, obsessively baking meatloaf, and maintaining a perfectly composed facade. The setup is intriguing, with Kidman’s signature intensity giving depth to her role. But here’s the issue—the movie just doesn’t keep up its momentum.
Despite strong performances from both Kidman and Macfadyen, the film struggles to find its rhythm. What starts as a sharp, darkly comedic mystery soon loses its edge, becoming a bit too scattered to fully engage the audience. Even Gael García Bernal, who also stars in the film, can’t quite elevate it to where it needs to be.
In the end, Holland has its moments—it’s stylish, well-acted, and has some clever dark humor—but it never fully lands. It’s a bit like a meal that looks great on the plate but leaves you wanting more. If you’re a die-hard Nicole Kidman fan, you’ll probably still enjoy watching her do what she does best. But if you’re looking for a consistently gripping black comedy, this one might not quite hit the mark.
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