Please can someone explain chick flicks to me! I was at the cinema last night with a couple of girls and we went to see The Holiday – I told them they could decide what we saw, since I chose last time. I rather like Jack Black anyway, so at first I had no objection.

However, this was a sugary, over-sentimental movie: apparently we brits all live in chocolate box cottages and have plumy accents; apparently everyone in LA works in the film industry and has big houses. This is a film where nothing bad happens – that is, there is no plot-retention, no twists or suspense. Its just two women swapping houses and finding love in each others countries. They all live happily ever after. No baddies, no cheating, no cool cars, no guns.

Well, charlotte and Julie loved it. They both said they cried. Explain please!