The Perfect Holiday (2007)

16% of critics liked it
(57 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(158,410 ratings)

Gabrielle Union, Morris Chestnut, Queen Latifah, and Terrence Howard star in a film concerning a young girl who implores a department-store Santa to find a new husband for her divorced mother for Christmas. Single mother of three Nancy (Union) has been putting the needs of her three children ahead… More Gabrielle Union, Morris Chestnut, Queen Latifah, and Terrence Howard star in a film concerning a young girl who implores a department-store Santa to find a new husband for her divorced mother for Christmas. Single mother of three Nancy (Union) has been putting the needs of her three children ahead of her own for as far back as she can remember, and lately her youngest daughter, Emily (Khail Bryant), has become acutely aware of her mother's palpable sadness. As Christmas draws near, Nancy takes her kids to the mall for a cheerful visit with jolly old Saint Nick. When it comes time for Emily's turn to sit on Santa's lap and make her Christmas wish, she selflessly remembers her mother's recent comment that a compliment from a man would be the best gift of all. Determined to make her mother happy again even if it means sacrificing her own wish, Emily relays the message to Santa (Chestnut), not realizing that the man beneath the beard is actually an office-supply salesman and ambitious singer/songwriter named Benjamin. Recognizing the daughter's love for her mother and sensing something truly special in Nancy, Benjamin cheerfully obliges the young girl, setting into motion a series of events that promise to make this the most memorable holiday in quite some time. Lance Rivera directs a film produced by Shakim Compere and Latifah through Flavor Unit Entertainment. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Lance Rivera
Written By: Lance Rivera, Marc Calixte, Nat Mauldin, Jeff Stein
Genres: Kids & Family, Romance

In Theaters: Dec 12, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Nov 11, 2008
Studio: Yari Film Group

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
I'd rather watch 90 minutes of a flickering yule log video than sit through this overcooked Christmas goose again.
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
[A] wretched yuletide comedy.
David Wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle
Despite the flabby direction and uninspired plot, The Perfect Holiday almost works because Chestnut and Union are an attractive couple and you want them to get together.
Whitney Pastorek, Entertainment Weekly
[Queen Latifah and Terrence Howard] may be a draw, but it's too bad no one thought the endearing performances in this charming (if cliché) family romance would be enough.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Jovial and junky as all get out, The Perfect Holiday is about what you'd expect from a holiday comedy daring to put 'perfect' in its title. As in anything but.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
[The script] hasn't been written as much as stamped out like so many cheap Christmas knickknacks that will be on the clearance shelf come Dec. 26.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Spicing up Christmas with some savvy soul, are tough love story tour guide Queen Latifah, Terrence Howard as her sidekick mute meanie, and devilish duo Katt Williams and Charlie Murphy's J-Jizzy, doing musical bad boys with deliciously nasty glee.
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
I saw mommy kissin' Santa Claus, ghetto style.
Heather Huntington, ReelzChannel.com
Love eventually conquers all, as expected, but not before we're forced to sit through a nearly endless parade of clichés, unfunny jokes, and empty drama.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Christmas fable is cute and tame, but unoriginal.
Matt Kelemen, Las Vegas CityLife
Queen Latifah and Terrence Howard just show up enough in The Perfect Holiday to either pick up a paycheck or return some kind of mysterious unpaid debt to writer-director Lance Rivera.
Linda Cook, Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)
"The Perfect Holiday" isn't perfect. But it does contain moments of merriment.
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
Bad Santa! No cookie!
Stax, IGN Movies
It's deplorable that these two stars have been reduced to appearing in such garbage.
Brian Orndorf, eFilmCritic.com
Perfect Holiday is far from an offensive effort. It's just pathetic and forgettable, and when it comes to Christmas cheer, mediocrity should never be left under the tree.
Fred Topel, Can Magazine
There's just no cynicism in this whole story. As if a woman knows how to take a compliment. But this movie allows you to suspend disbelief and buy into a woman who can say thank you.
Amy Nicholson, Boxoffice Magazine
If tickets to this yuletide dreck are hiding in your stocking, you'd be better off with a lump of coal.
John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
In one scene, Terrence Howard kneels in a pair of shoes like Tim Conway in a 'Dorf on Golf' video, licks a lollipop and utters this line: 'I gotta go dookie.' I hope they paid him well.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
...a clumsy mess of silly contrivances and musty sight gags...
Daniel M. Kimmel, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
There's no rush to see this disappointing excuse for a holiday film.

Read all 20 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Dead A

I expected Queen Latifah to be all over this movie not just tiny tiny appearances. It was okay. Not in my expectation though.
Red L

I found this a cookie-cutter type of movie. Lonely mom with three kids finds a perfect guy who has to work through various obstacles to find his way to true love, dah-da dah-da. I gave it a half-star bonus for the fact that the movie does work with the actors, but deducted a… More
I found this a cookie-cutter type of movie. Lonely mom with three kids finds a perfect guy who has to work through various obstacles to find his way to true love, dah-da dah-da. I gave it a half-star bonus for the fact that the movie does work with the actors, but deducted a half-star for Queen Latifah and Terrance Howard's redundant roles in it.
Mister C

If it weren't for Queen Latifah,this would have been disasterous from the start. The ONLY saving grace here is Morris Chestnut and Gabrielle Union.
Fascade F

The chemistry between Morris Chestnut & Gabrielle Union in this light hearted romantic comedy does wonders to the soul of the Christmas spirit. See it!
Deb S

The Perfect Holiday has heart and Morris Chestnut and Gabrielle Union do they best they can. It is always refreshing to see a clean movie filled with romance and humor but it's a tad too bland and average.
William G

Exceedingly pathetic and slapsticky holiday-set rom-com.
Matthew A

Just an ordinary Christmas drama and comedy that deals with family affairs, in particular how it affects the kids. There was some relatively good acting, but overall it's just a little X-mas movie that should be watched during X-mas time because it has some really silly laughs.
Leo L

An intriguing movie! Morris Chestnut and Gabrielle Union have such a great on-screen chemistry. This movie is definitely one to watch during the holiday season. Great!