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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 date; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

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

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

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
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

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

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

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

Queen Latifah remains here an utterly imperturbable, warm and human presence.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
David Noh
David Noh
Film Journal International

A nice little romantic comedy which also packs an emotional punch.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
01/27/07
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

Here at least, Latifah has only two modes: heavily constipated and sass-tastic.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
11/27/06
Keith Phipps
Keith Phipps
AV Club

If you had three weeks left to live, I wouldn't recommend you spend your precious time watching this.

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
09/26/06
Camerin Courtney
Camerin Courtney
Christianity Today

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

Not the worst movie ever made -- no thanks to Latifah.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
06/03/06
Peter Sobczynski
Peter Sobczynski
eFilmCritic.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
05/26/06
Sydney Morning Herald

A wish fulfilment fantasy dressed up with a shopping spree, a gorgeous mountain resort in Europe, a world class chef creating new menus every day, champagne, exotic massage and health spa, snow capped scenery and linen to die for

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
05/13/06
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

Wayne Wang keeps things on an even keel, with good supporting performances from LL Cool J as Latifah’s romantic interest, Timothy Hutton as a corporate villain and Alicia Witt as Hutton’s secretary/mistress.

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
05/12/06
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

Latifah is the risk-taking spark in a film that takes few chances of its own.

Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
05/04/06
Matt Pais
Matt Pais
Metromix.com

Is Wayne Wang going to keep remaking Maid In Manhattan until he gets it right? Well, keep trying Wayne.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
04/08/06
Jim Slotek
Jim Slotek
Jam! Movies

[Latifah] shows both comedic and dramatic range, and garners sympathy despite the script's lack of depth.

Full Review Source: Denton Record Chronicle (TX) | comment Comment
02/21/06
Todd Jorgenson
Todd Jorgenson
Denton Record Chronicle (TX)

“Last Holiday” is more than a story that lets us escape. It’s a story we’d like to believe could actually happen.

Full Review Source: Zertinet Movies | comment Comment
02/01/06
Steven Snyder
Steven Snyder
Zertinet Movies
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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