Last Holiday: Critic Reviews

A chaste and tepid remake.

This story of a gentle soul (Queen Latifah) who learns to live only after learning of her imminent death is as witless as it is formulaic.

The frothy Last Holiday serves its purpose: amusing escapism.

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.

Last Holiday, in its feathery, good-hearted way, is enough to give you pause.

The most surprisingly satisfying Hollywood comedy in ages.

The Queen never lets us down.

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.

The Queen is in fine form, but this particular throne is a bit rickety.

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.

Last Holiday plays like a hug. When a movie can do that, a strange transformation takes place.

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.

The Last Holiday would be predictable even if it weren't a remake, but that isn't necessarily a drawback. On the contrary, it actually adds a boost to the movie's feel-good format.

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.

Latifah ensures that Last Holiday is often very charming and never less than pleasant.

Last Holiday is a thoroughly mediocre dramedy.

This is a movie with lots of great cuisine, and precious little flava.

It may not be much -- it's a remake of a 1950 Alec Guinness film -- but it is as bright as a Christmas bauble.

The pace drags, the stunt double work is obvious and the slapstick, especially a ski-hill scene, is contrived and extended.

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.

One of the most likable performers in the business, Queen Latifah finally gets a vehicle that gives her formidable talents and expansive spirit plenty of blooming room.

Formulaic but sometimes winning comedy.

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

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