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Movies / On DVD / Last Holiday
Last Holiday

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Last Holiday (2006)

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Reviews Counted:112

Fresh:61

Rotten:51

Average Rating:5.8/10

Consensus: Although Queen Latifah's bountiful life-affirming spirit permeates the film, director Wayne Wang is unable to revive this remake with any real flair.

Rated: 12A [See Full Rating] for some sexual reference

Runtime: 1 hr 52 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:03-03-2006

Synopsis: Queen Latifah is absolutely delightful in Wayne Wang's romantic comedy, LAST HOLIDAY. Latifah stars as Georgia Byrd, a reserved plus-sized woman who lives a dreary, ordinary life in pre-Katrina New... Queen Latifah is absolutely delightful in Wayne Wang's romantic comedy, LAST HOLIDAY. Latifah stars as Georgia Byrd, a reserved plus-sized woman who lives a dreary, ordinary life in pre-Katrina New Orleans, where she dreams of an elegant existence filled with fancy food, stylish clothing, and high-society parties. But she spends most of her evenings eating frozen dinners all alone, often thinking about a shy coworker (LL Cool J) she has a crush on. When she is suddenly diagnosed with a terminal illness and given three weeks to live, she collects her savings and decides to go crazy, doing all those things she would never allow herself to do before. She heads for one of the world's ritziest hotels, the Grand Hotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic, where she takes advantage of every luxury she can, from spa treatments to downhill ski runs to helicopter trips to designer shopping excursions. While her lavish appetite is admired by a gourmet chef (Gerard Depardieu, showing agile comic skill), she is deemed a potential threat by a corporate bigwig (a slick Timothy Hutton). She's also none too happy to find her too-smooth senator (Giancarlo Esposito) enjoying a lush vacation instead of serving his community. Latifah simply lights up the screen in a somewhat different version of the role played by Alec Guinness in Henry Cass's 1950 original. This version of LAST HOLIDAY has been updated with a playful pop soundtrack, Geoffrey Simpson's beautiful photography, William Arnold's bright and colorful production design, and an enjoyable, lighthearted pace from director Wang (DIM SUM, THE JOY LUCK CLUB, and MAID IN MANHATTAN). [More]

Starring: Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton, Gerard Depardieu

Starring: Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton, Gerard Depardieu, Alicia Witt, Giancarlo Esposito, Michael Nouri, Jane Adams

Director: Wayne Wang

Director: Wayne Wang
Screenwriter: Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman
Producer: Robert Zemeckis, Steve Starkey, Richard Vane, Laurence Mark, Jack Rapke
Composer: George Fenton
Producer: Peter S. Seaman, Jeffrey Price
Studio: Paramount Pictures

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Reviews for Last Holiday

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1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; UK critics are listed first)
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This is a terrific story with lots of wonderful ideas swirling around inside it, and a few genuinely wonderful sequences. But the film suffers from a complete lack of attitude or style.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
02/04/06
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

It’s not exactly distinguished, but pleasantly warm-hearted, and the sort of thing you might enjoy on afternoon TV when laid up with the flu.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Trevor Johnston
Trevor Johnston
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

At best it's a bumpy ride through predictable territory.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
02/22/06
Stella Papamichael
Stella Papamichael
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Money can buy you happiness in this inferior remake — although its makeover storyline may please fans of The Princess Diaries et al.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Anna Smith
Anna Smith
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's clear that Queen Latifah is a proper, old school movie star - the camera loves her and her constantly upbeat screen persona is extremely likeable. It's just a shame that studios don't seem able to find a decent vehicle for her talents.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
03/02/06
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
03/04/06
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
01/20/07
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

Almost makes you want to cash in your IRA and live it up.

Full Review Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel | comment Comment
01/12/06
Tracy Allerton
Tracy Allerton
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The film's larger arc and plot twists leave quite a bit to be desired. But Wang's overall delicate touch makes Last Holiday tolerable.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
01/13/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

The movie, which is directed by Wayne Wang (The Joy Luck Club, Smoke) leads to a predictable but smile-worthy conclusion.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Daily News | comment Comment
01/13/06
Jenice Armstrong
Jenice Armstrong
Philadelphia Daily News

It's obvious where "Last Holiday" goes and at times it takes too long to get there, but watching Latifah work her style and spirit when she gets to the Grandhotel Pupp is pure enjoyment.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
06/16/06
Rory L. Aronsky
Rory L. Aronsky
Film Threat

... overlong (it's almost two hours) and unfocused, but thanks to Latifah, at least you're in amiable company.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
01/12/06
Sean Axmaker
Sean Axmaker
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The film proffers both a fantasy of wealth and the reassurance that money isn't what really matters.

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
01/13/06
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

The Queen never lets us down.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
01/13/06
Jami Bernard
Jami Bernard
New York Daily News

A mild, fangless, forgettable thing that entertains some and offends little, barring one obnoxious subcontinental stereotype and a cloying urge to make everybody chipper at the end.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
01/13/06
Amy Biancolli
Amy Biancolli
Houston Chronicle

Without Queen Latifah, Last Holiday would have been a somewhat tedious vacation, despite its beautiful setting.

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
01/13/06
Kit Bowen
Kit Bowen
Hollywood.com

An appealing morality play in which Queen Latifah demonstrates a warm embrace of life with humor and humanity.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
01/12/06
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

A better way to seize the day would be to do something other than sitting through the sitcomedic Last Holiday.

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
01/12/06
Peter Canavese
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews

Move over Julia Roberts... there's a new Queen in town.

Full Review Source: 7M Pictures | comment 1 Comment
01/13/06
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures

...A slight film, sometimes droll, sometimes whimsical, and usually sharp.

Full Review Source: Killer Movie Reviews | comment Comment
01/12/06
Andrea Chase
Andrea Chase
Killer Movie Reviews
 
 
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Latest News for Last Holiday

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July 07, 2006: Cast Your Vote in the Teen Choice Awards
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January 17, 2006: Weinsteins "Hoodwink" Their Way to #1 at the Weekend Box Office
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