Last Holiday (2006)

55% of critics liked it
(115 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(355,220 ratings)

A woman learns to love life when she finds out she won't be around long in this comedy. Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) lives in New Orleans, where she works in the cookware department of an upscale gourmet supply shop. While Georgia carries a torch for Sean (LL Cool J), one of her co-workers, she… More A woman learns to love life when she finds out she won't be around long in this comedy. Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) lives in New Orleans, where she works in the cookware department of an upscale gourmet supply shop. While Georgia carries a torch for Sean (LL Cool J), one of her co-workers, she doesn't have the nerve to tell him, and despite her estimable skills in the kitchen, she lives frugally and doesn't put her talent to use. Georgia's good friend Rochelle (Jane Adams) often tells her that life is short and she needs to live a little, but she doesn't pay her much mind until a visit to the doctor reveals that Georgia has a very rare medical condition, and only has three weeks to live. Throwing caution to the wind, Georgia cashes out her life savings and heads to Europe for a last bit of revelry. She checks into a four-star hotel, trades her drab clothes for haute couture, finds herself flirting with a handsome and powerful politician (Giancarlo Esposito), convinces the head of a cooking supplies firm (Timothy Hutton) that she's a high-powered executive from a rival company, and makes friends with a four-star chef (Gérard Depardieu). But when Sean learns the truth about Georgia's condition, he sets out to find her before their chance at romance has passed. Directed by Wayne Wang, Last Holiday is a remake of a 1950 British comedy, which starred Alec Guinness as a salesman with a few weeks to live. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 51 min.
Directed By: Wayne Wang
Written By: Martin Starger, Peter S. Seaman, Jeffrey Price, J B Priestly, Tim Korn
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 13, 2006 Wide
On DVD: May 2, 2006
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Matt Singer, Village Voice
The most surprisingly satisfying Hollywood comedy in ages.
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.
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
An awful lot makes no sense in Jeffrey Price and Peter Seaman's script, starting with its basic premise.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
This is a movie with lots of great cuisine, and precious little flava.
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger
Latifah's carpe diem spirit sustains the picture, even when the script is carpe dumb.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
Last Holiday is a thoroughly mediocre dramedy.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Formulaic but sometimes winning comedy.
David Noh, Film Journal International
Queen Latifah remains here an utterly imperturbable, warm and human presence.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
A nice little romantic comedy which also packs an emotional punch.
Keith Phipps, AV Club
Here at least, Latifah has only two modes: heavily constipated and sass-tastic.
Camerin Courtney, Christianity Today
If you had three weeks left to live, I wouldn't recommend you spend your precious time watching this.
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.
Rory L. Aronsky, Film Threat
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.
Peter Sobczynski, eFilmCritic.com
Not the worst movie ever made -- no thanks to Latifah.
Diana Saenger, ReviewExpress.com
Last Holiday provides Latifah fans with more of her strong and likeable performances.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
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
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
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.
Matt Pais, Metromix.com
Latifah is the risk-taking spark in a film that takes few chances of its own.
Jim Slotek, Jam! Movies
Is Wayne Wang going to keep remaking Maid In Manhattan until he gets it right? Well, keep trying Wayne.
Anna Smith, Empire Magazine
Money can buy you happiness in this inferior remake - although its makeover storyline may please fans of The Princess Diaries et al.

Read all 20 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cassie H

Super Funny!!!!!!!!!!!! Queen Latifah is indeed the queen!
Bethany M

A really great film! Very funny! A must see!
Richard C

C
Lenny M

Queen Latifah, yum! Going to Europe, spending all da money, ballin'!
Bobby H

Funny, kind of romantic, and shows you that some of the things in life you might think are important probably are not. It's a film to help you apperciate the little things. It's a good flick to watch. Negatives: It's typical, not very orginal, and predictable. I… More
Funny, kind of romantic, and shows you that some of the things in life you might think are important probably are not. It's a film to help you apperciate the little things. It's a good flick to watch. Negatives: It's typical, not very orginal, and predictable. I pretty much knew exactly what was going to happen right when it started. Still it's fun to watch and worth your while.
jay n

charming
Leigh R

Queen Latifah dominates this character. Fantastic. LL Cool J is so freakin' hot...
Jason S

Not bad. A little out there but fun to watch.
Sophie B

I like more action in my films!
James A

It was like a bad 80's movie minus the comedy.
Jose Z

I thought this was going to be a funnier movie. the talent of Queen Latifah is way too wasted in this movie, and also you cant have and actor so important like Gerard Depardieu with a secondary role. and LL Cool J acting job is terrible. But not all is bad, the landscapes are… More
I thought this was going to be a funnier movie. the talent of Queen Latifah is way too wasted in this movie, and also you cant have and actor so important like Gerard Depardieu with a secondary role. and LL Cool J acting job is terrible. But not all is bad, the landscapes are beautiful.
Fascade F

An amazing film. In this business you have got to re-invent yourself to appeal to everyone and Queen Latifah and LL Cool J have done just that. A wonderful film.
Deb S

Queen Latifah plays 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 dreamt of a better life, as well as attracting the attention of her sexy co-worker, Sean Williams (LL Cool… More
Queen Latifah plays 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 dreamt of a better life, as well as attracting the attention of her sexy co-worker, Sean Williams (LL Cool J) but when she finds out that she has three weeks to live because of a terminal brain disorder, her world comes crashing down. Faced with her own upcoming mortality, she cashes out her life's savings and decides to take the trip of her dreams, to the Grandhotel Pupp in Europe to live her last three weeks of life to the fullest.While she's there she meets her idol, a world famous chef (Gerard Depardieu), charms her way into the hearts of a U.S. senator (Giancarlo Espisito,) and a congressman (Michael Nouri) and gets revenge on her sleazy boss (Timothy Hutton in full Disney-villain mode). Queen Latifah gives it her all, and does succeed in carrying the majority of the picture while LL Cool J is good as her love interest.
Joey N

Queen Latifah deserves better.
Andrew F

I was definately surprised at how good this movie was. But the end was too cliche.
Sunil J

A silly premise with a lot of laughs and a lot of heart. Just a really sweet movie.
Maymay A

"She always thought she was somebody... and she was." An effective feel-good flick. It's just that it's something I would not remember much. It has nothing very special. But, it's nice. It says that you should always have the guts to turn the possibilities… More
"She always thought she was somebody... and she was." An effective feel-good flick. It's just that it's something I would not remember much. It has nothing very special. But, it's nice. It says that you should always have the guts to turn the possibilities into realities.
Brett W

Wayne Wang...never heard of him.
Juli R

Queen Latifah almost but not quite rescues this movie. The script is farfetched and not in a fun way. I would not watch it again unless I was bedridden and/or ill.
Sam C

This was pretty bad, and a little too unbelievable for me...