SnoopyStyle
Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) is a shy reserved sales clerk, and an amateur chef. She has feelings for co-worker Sean Matthews (LL Cool J). When a CAT scan reveals a terminal illness, she cashes in everything to live it up in Europe at the Grandhotel Pupp where chef Didier (Gérard Depardieu) serves.Queen Latifah exudes charisma and warmth which enlivens this old feel-good formula. It's fun, it's charming, and it's cliché. Timothy Hutton does a sleazy retail magnate. LL Cool J is very personable and sexy. Gérard Depardieu actually has fun acting opposite the Queen. In the end, any positivity comes from her beautiful personality. And that's what makes this such a delight.
gregeichelberger
Originally published on Jan. 10, 2006:You may have begun to think that after such flops as "Taxi," "Bringing Down the House," "Beauty Shop" and "Barber Shop," Queen Latifah's film career peaked with her Oscar- nominated performance in "Chicago" in 2001. That opinion may change a little after viewing her latest effort, "Last Holiday," a cute comedy about a dying woman who goes on a spending spree during her last few weeks on Earth.Basically, it's a remake of the 1950 Alec Guinness film (he was better), as well as Jerry Lewis' "Hook, Line & Sinker" (1969) in which he runs up thousands of dollars in expenses following a terminal diagnosis.Latifah is Georgia Byrd, a quiet, single, New Orleans woman who works as a sales representative in the cookware department of a local department store. She's always dreaming of a better life, as well as the affections of a co-worker, Sean Williams (LL Cool J).She's lonely and shy, and even keeps a book of "Possiblities" in which she places notes and photos of her fondest desires. An accidental bump on the head, though, causes her cautious world to come tumbling down as an MRI reveals that she has the fatal "Lamingham's Disease," a previously undiagnosed malady that gives her just three weeks to live.Faced with her own upcoming mortality, and the fact that she has salted away a considerable sum of cash, Georgia decides to take the trip of her dreams, the Grandhotel Pupp in Czechoslovakia.There, she somehow charms her way into the hearts of a U.S. senator (Giancarlo Espisito, "Derailed"), a congressman (Michael Nouri, "The Terminal"), a world famous chef (Gerard Depardieu), and the mistress of the department store's owner (Alicia Witt, "The Upside Of Anger").Only the sleazy mogul, Matthew Kragen (Timothy Hutton, Oscar-winner for "Ordinary People") sees through her, but she bungles through, excelling at snowboarding – even though she has never done it before – and bank-jumping off a huge dam. Finally, Sean (who somehow had enough cash on hand to do so) makes the Transatlantic journey to find his beloved, about the same time as her doctor, Gupta (Ranjit Chowdhry), discovers some important news. Premise is pretty silly, considering Georgia is only given three weeks to live (which seems a pretty short duration), plus, she seemingly has an endless supply of funds for a department store sales rep.In one particularly ridiculous scene, she complains about flying economy class, asks how much it costs to be in first class, and, in the next scene, is flying up front. The slapstick sequences (including Georgia hurling down a ski slope out of control and wiping out Kragen and a dozen others) are also pretty lame.Overall, though, the film is basically harmless, silly and entertaining. It won't win any awards, but it is a decent diversion for January, and that's not such a bad thing.
Isaac5855
LAST HOLIDAY is a rather lame remake of an old Alec Guiness comedy that stars Queen Latifah as Georgia Byrd, a department store employee who finds out she's dying and decides to travel to Europe and blow all her money, not knowing her fantasy man/fellow employee (LL Cool J)has been fantasizing about her as much as she's been thinking about him. This film is so predictable that I could practically recite the dialogue along with the actors. Queen Latifah works very hard at making her Plain Jane character funny and believable, but her performance comes off as forced and annoying. LL Cool J shows solid leading man potential in a thankless role that's a waste of his and our time. There are plot holes you can drive a truck through, but the film does boast an impressive supporting cast including Gereard Depardieu as a world famous chef who befriends Georgia, Giancarlo Esposito as a US Senator from Georgia's hometown, who happens to be vacationing in the same European spot Georgia travels to, where she learns he is in bed with a ruthless, wealthy businessman (a surprisingly effective Timothy Hutton, cleverly cast against type), who is also dealing with a very discontent mistress (Alicia Witt). There's some gorgeous scenery and the supporting cast is fun; however, unless you're a hardcore Queen Latifah fan, I'd pass on this one.
scotplaya
Last Holiday, after watching the movie I felt really moved. Though predictable, the movie will make any man, woman, or child smile in the end. Before watching the movie, my friends told me the audience applauded at the theaters. The biggest regret I have about the movie was not watching it in theaters. No Oscar-awarded movie ever moved me like this. This is the only romantic movie I actually liked. I sadly expect a high-standard critic to despise this movie so don't be fulled by them. Honestly most movies are so complex nowadays, I tend to get lost in them. The movie is simple, funny, and something the whole family will enjoy.
