Last Holiday 2006

Critics score:
55 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: Last Holiday isn't much more than a fantasy, but it's a sweet one, and it's far more worthy of attention than such hideous garbage as Rumor Has It . . . . Read more

John Hartl, Seattle Times: In its corny, cartoonish way, it even suggests a generosity of spirit that's faithful to the 1950 original. Read more

Jessica Reaves, Chicago Tribune: We may know exactly where we're going, but the journey is so much fun, all but the most peevish audience members will find it impossible to complain. Read more

Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle: An awful lot makes no sense in Jeffrey Price and Peter Seaman's script, starting with its basic premise. Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: This is the Queen Latifah performance I've been waiting for ever since she broke into movies. Read more

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: She's (Queen Latifa) the unexpected and hugely effective star of Last Holiday, a pleasant trifle made far better than it should be by her effortless charm and expansive spirit. Read more

Keith Phipps, AV Club: Here at least, Latifah has only two modes: heavily constipated and sass-tastic. Read more

Kathy Cano Murillo, Arizona Republic: It's far from a five-hanky snifflefest, even for softies, but thanks to Latifah's talent, you'll say 'Awwww, that was sweet' when the credits roll. Read more

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: Last Holiday, in its feathery, good-hearted way, is enough to give you pause. Read more

Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle: 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. Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: For a movie about overcoming fear and living out loud, Last Holiday's too-tidy conclusion isn't a sign of hope so much as a lack of nerve. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: A chaste and tepid remake. Read more

John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press: Track down the old movie if you crave a real meal. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: The pace drags, the stunt double work is obvious and the slapstick, especially a ski-hill scene, is contrived and extended. Read more

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: The Queen is in fine form, but this particular throne is a bit rickety. Read more

Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly: Whether performing a thrilling, impromptu church spiritual or making a grand entrance in a shimmering red chiffon gown, Queen Latifah fills every frame of the film with her uncorked generosity of spirit. Read more

Gene Seymour, Newsday: If Last Holiday were a song, it'd be one of Earth, Wind and Fire's brassier anthems of uplift and self-realization. Read more

Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger: Latifah's carpe diem spirit sustains the picture, even when the script is carpe dumb. Read more

Jami Bernard, New York Daily News: The Queen never lets us down. Read more

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: This is a movie with lots of great cuisine, and precious little flava. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Last Holiday plays like a hug. When a movie can do that, a strange transformation takes place. Read more

Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com: There are some funny gags interspersed among the undistinguished ones, but Wang's direction has little snap or wit, and the movie overall is too fixated on the laborious task of massaging our universal self-esteem. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: It may not be much -- it's a remake of a 1950 Alec Guinness film -- but it is as bright as a Christmas bauble. Read more

Trevor Johnston, Time Out: 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. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: The frothy Last Holiday serves its purpose: amusing escapism. Read more

Joe Leydon, Variety: Latifah ensures that Last Holiday is often very charming and never less than pleasant. Read more

Matt Singer, Village Voice: The most surprisingly satisfying Hollywood comedy in ages. Read more

Stephen Hunter, Washington Post: Latifah proves once again the weird parallels between rap stardom and movie stardom. Both formats seem to be about a magical something called presence, and Latifah, even in a dialed-down, quiet role like this one, has it. Read more