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{{Short description|Movie by Wayne Wang with Queen Latifah}}
{{Infobox_Film |
{{Infobox film
name = Last Holiday |
image = Last holiday.jpg |
| name = Last Holiday
| image = Last holiday.jpg
caption = Promotional poster for ''Last Holiday'' |
| caption = Theatrical release poster
imdb_id = 0408985 |
| director = [[Wayne Wang]]
producer = [[Laurence Mark]]<br>[[Jack Rapke]] |
| producer = {{Plainlist|
director = [[Wayne Wang]] |
* [[Laurence Mark]]
writer = [[Jeffrey Price]]<br>[[Peter S. Seaman]]|
* [[Jack Rapke]]
starring = [[Queen Latifah]]<br>[[LL Cool J]]<br>[[Timothy Hutton]]<br>[[Giancarlo Esposito]] |
}}
music = [[George Fenton]] |
| writer = [[Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman|Jeffrey Price<br />Peter S. Seaman]]
cinematography = [[Geoffrey Simpson]] |
| starring = {{Plainlist|
editing = [[Deirdre Slevin]] |
* [[Queen Latifah]]
distributor = [[Paramount Pictures]] |
* [[LL Cool J]]
released = [[January 13]], [[2006]] |
* [[Timothy Hutton]]
runtime = |112 minutes
* [[Gérard Depardieu]]
budget = |
* [[Alicia Witt]]
language = [[English language|English]] |
* [[Giancarlo Esposito]]
DVD Release Date: May 2, 2006
}}

| music = [[George Fenton]]
| cinematography = [[Geoffrey Simpson]]
| based_on = {{based_on|''[[Last Holiday (1950 film)|Last Holiday]]''|[[J.B. Priestley]]}}
| editing = Deirdre Slevin
| studio = [[ImageMovers]]
| distributor = [[Paramount Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|2006|01|13|United States}}
| runtime = 112 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $45 million
| gross = $43.3 million<ref name="mojo">{{cite web|title=Last Holiday|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lastholiday.htm|publisher=[[BoxOfficeMojo]]|access-date=January 6, 2013}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''''Last Holiday''''' is a 2006 American [[Romance film|romantic]] [[comedy-drama]] film directed by [[Wayne Wang]] and written by [[Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman]]. The film is loosely based on the [[Last Holiday (1950 film)|1950 British film of the same name]] by [[J. B. Priestley]]. The film stars [[Queen Latifah]] as Georgia, a humble [[department store]] assistant who is told that she has a rare brain condition and only has a few weeks to live. She promptly decides to spend her remaining funds on a luxury holiday in Europe before she dies.


Price and Seaman wanted [[John Candy]] for the main role but, after Candy's death, Latifah's agent suggested a new version starring her. Produced by [[Robert Zemeckis]]' [[ImageMovers]], the film was released by [[Paramount Pictures]] on January 13, 2006. The film [[box-office bomb|underperformed at the box office]], having grossed $43.3 million against a budget of $45 million and received mixed reviews from critics, though Latifah's performance was universally praised for her charm and humor.


==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summary should be between 400 to 700 words. -->
Georgia Byrd is a shy, unassuming salesperson in the cookware department at Kragen's Department Store in [[New Orleans]] and a Baptist choir singer who longs to cook professionally. She privately records her dreams of a better life in a scrapbook labeled "Possibilities" enjoys replicating TV chef [[Emeril Lagasse]]'s gourmet recipes, serving her creations to a neighbor while denying herself the pleasure of eating them.


During the Christmas season, while flirting with handsome co-worker Sean Williams, whom she has secretly featured in her scrapbook as her dream husband, Georgia bumps her head. Taken to the store's health center for a [[CT scan]], she is told by the company physician that she has several [[brain tumor]]s resulting from a rare terminal neurological disorder called [[List of fictional diseases#In film|Lampington's disease]].
'''''Last Holiday''''' is a [[film]] directed by [[Wayne Wang]] and starring [[Queen Latifah]], [[LL Cool J]], [[Timothy Hutton]] and [[Alicia Witt]] and was filmed on-site in [[New Orleans, Louisiana]] and at [[Barrandov Studios]], in the [[Czech Republic]]. It was released in [[North America]] on [[January 13]], [[2006]].


As her [[Health maintenance organization|HMO plan]] does not cover the high cost of an operation, Georgia resigns herself to having only a few weeks to live. She quits her job, liquidates her assets, and sets off on a dream vacation at the deluxe [[Grandhotel Pupp]] in the [[Czech Republic]]'s spa city of [[Karlovy Vary]].
The film is a remake of the [[Last Holiday (1950 film)|1950 film of the same name]], starring [[Alec Guinness]].


Free of inhibitions and determined to enjoy the final weeks of her life, Georgia checks into the Presidential Suite and buys a designer wardrobe in expensive boutiques. She then also makes extensive use of the hotel's spa facilities, attempts snowboarding and [[BASE jumping]], enjoys succulent meals prepared by world-renowned Chef Didier, and wins a small fortune playing [[roulette]] in the casino.
As of [[March 9]], [[2006]], the film grossed a total of 38.4 million dollars. It was released on DVD on [[May 2]], 2006.


Georgia impresses the hotel's staff, with the exception of the cantankerous guest services manager Ms. Gunther, with her naive manner and forthright kindness. She also mingles with some of the other guests, including Matthew Kragen, an arrogant self-help guru and the owner of the department store where she worked; Kragen's assistant/mistress Ms. Burns; and [[Louisiana]] power brokers Senator Dillings and Congressman Stewart. Kragen is wary of Georgia and suspects her of trying to sabotage his business, but the rest are charmed by her free spirit.
==Plot==


When Kragen bribes Ms. Gunther to dig up information about Georgia's background, she goes through her hotel suite. She finds a letter Georgia has written providing instructions for the disposal of her remains after her death. Moved by the letter and realizing Georgia's self-confidence and sunny optimism have touched everyone who has met her since her arrival, Ms. Gunther confesses to Georgia she snooped through her belongings and found the letter. She urges her to return home and spend her last days with those she loves.
[[Queen Latifah]] plays Georgia Byrd, an employee in the cookware department of the fictitious Kragen's Department Store in [[New Orleans]]. She is a timid, unassuming woman who leads a mechanical lifestyle, [[cooking]] wonderful meals for her neighbor and his grandfather, but never eating any herself. While flirting with a co-worker, Sean Williams ([[LL Cool J]]), she bumps her head on a [[Cabinet_(furniture)|cabinet]] door and is taken to the store's [[health]] center for a [[CAT scan]].


Taking Ms. Gunther's advice, Georgia heads for the airport but discovers an avalanche has blocked the road. Unbeknownst to her, Sean, having learned of Georgia's diagnosis and ready to acknowledge his long-standing feelings for her, has flown to Europe and is in a taxi on the other side of the snowdrift, blocked from reaching her at the hotel.
There, company [[Physician|physician]] [[Sanjay Gupta|Dr. Gupta]] discovers that she has several [[Brain tumor|brain tumors]] resulting from a [[rare]] [[Neurology|neurological]] [[Disorder (medicine)|disorder]] - Lampingtons disease. Georgia's HMO plan will not cover the $340,000 operation to remove the tumors, and Georgia must come to terms with the fact that she has about three [[Week|weeks]] to live. When she approaches Adamian, her [[Narcissism|self-absorbed]] [[yuppie]] [[supervisor]], about the unfortunate [[Destiny|turn of events]] in her life, he is dismissive and refuses to listen to her. In a sudden burst of self-assertion, Georgia breaks his cell phone and delivers a verbal tirade against him, finally announcing her resignation and leaving the store.


Georgia returns to the hotel, and Sean leaves his taxi to hike across the snow on foot. Chef Didier invites her to assist him in the hotel's kitchen that night preparing an extravagant New Year's Eve feast and thanks her publicly at the party. Later, seated at dinner and incensed by the accolades and affection Georgia has received, Kragen tries to humiliate her to his companions by exposing her as a saleswoman in one of his stores, but Georgia confirms this and reveals her terminal illness.
On her way out, Sean approaches her on the sidewalk and asks her to go to a [[Dallas Mavericks]] vs [[New Orleans Hornets]] basketball game with him in a few weeks. Realizing that she may not even be alive at that point, Georgia morosely declines his offer, but Sean tells her to keep the ticket anyway in case she changes her mind. At her home, as she flips through the scrapbook (labeled the Book of Possibilities) chronicling the hopes and dreams she had for herself, Georgia realizes that she has been deferring her dreams all her life. She bemoans never getting to meet [[Emeril Lagasse]] and decides that she has to make the most of her last few weeks of life. She liquidates her savings and [[Individual Retirement Account]], and goes on her dream vacation to the [[Grandhotel Pupp]] in the [[spa town|spa city]] of [[Karlovy Vary]], [[Czech Republic]].


Kragen's companions, disgusted by his insensitivity, embrace her and abandon him. Dejected and embarrassed, Kragen goes to an upper floor of the hotel and sits on the ledge, contemplating suicide. Georgia tries to dissuade this, suggesting if he were nicer and less driven by greed, he would be a happier person.
While en route to [[Prague]], she betrays her generally quiet nature to voice her discontent about the airline's cramped, poor service and pays to be moved to a first class seat. On arriving in the Czech Republic, she continues throwing caution to the wind and hires a [[helicopter]] to fly into [[Karlovy Vary]] more quickly. The hotel's bellboy, Felipe, remarks that the last person to fly in by helicopter was [[Elton John]].


Sean arrives at the hotel just in time and joins Georgia on the ledge, confessing his affection for her and admitting he'd seen her scrapbook. In the lobby, Ms. Gunther finds a fax for Georgia stating she was misdiagnosed due to a faulty CT scanner and does not have Lampington's disease. Ms. Gunther rushes up to the ledge to announce the good news.
Georgia makes extensive use of the hotel's [[destination spa|spa]], attempts [[snowboarding]] and [[base jumping]] off of a [[dam]], enjoys succulent meals prepared by the world-renowned Chef Didier ([[Gérard Depardieu]]), occupies the presidential suite, and otherwise enjoys herself. She wins over the hotel's staff with her forthright manner and kindness, with the exception of the cantankerous floor [[valet]] Miss Gunther ([[Susan Kellerman]]). She meets Matthew Kragen ([[Timothy Hutton]]), the businessman who owns the store where she worked. Also at the resort are his assistant/[[mistress (lover)|mistress]] Ms. Burns, a pandering [[U.S. Senate|senator]] from [[Louisiana]] , and a prominent [[United States Congress|congressman]]. Kragen is skeptical about Georgia's unknown origins, and becomes paranoid that she has come to [[Karlovy Vary]] with the intent of sabotaging an important business deal he is trying to finalize while there.


Georgia and Sean return to New Orleans as a couple where they open a restaurant, Georgia's Joint, which is visited by Chef Didier and [[Emeril Lagasse]].
Miss Gunther rifles through Georgia's room for information after Kragen bribes her to do so. In the desk, Gunther finds a letter Georgia has written, explaining that she is near death and providing instructions that she is to be cremated. Gunther is moved by the letter, and begins to realize that Georgia's newfound confidence and optimism have touched the guests and employees of the hotel as well.


==Cast==
Miss Gunther's next interaction with Georgia makes Georgia suspicious, given that Miss Gunther had always acted so salty but now seems to have performed a complete about-face. Miss Gunther blurts out "Please don't die!" and admits to Georgia that she had gone through her room and read the letter Georgia had written. Georgia is momentarily surprised, but is relieved that she now has someone to talk to about her prognosis. Miss Gunther apologizes for her intrusion and asks Georgia what she is doing here with "all these terrible people". She advises Georgia to return to New Orleans to spend her last days with people she loves. Georgia takes Gunther's advice and makes her way for the airport.
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Queen Latifah]] as Georgia Byrd: The main protagonist, a shy cookware saleswoman at a retail department store with big dreams and aspirations of becoming a chef and owning her own restaurant. The untimely event learning that she seemingly diagnosed with a terminal illness encourages Georgia to quit her unfulfilling job, go on a dream vacation at the Grand Hotel Pupp and venture out of her comfort zone. She keeps a "Book of Possibilities" scrapbook, which contains everything her heart desires, from places she wants to go, foods she wants to try, people she wants to meet, and a better life.
* [[LL Cool J]] as Sean Williams: Georgia's love interest who also works at the retail store. He genuinely reciprocates Georgia's feelings, though he never had the courage to admit it out loud, partly due the latter being shy and the former unsure if she feels the same way too. After Georgia receives her diagnosis, quits her job and disappears to the Czech Republic dream vacation, Sean quits his job and tracks her down (asking the clinic's physician and Georgia's neighbor) - having realized that "without [Georgia] there [at the store], [Sean] doesn't have a reason to be there." During the search he comes across Georgia's possibilities book and realizes that she does love him. In the end, he finds Georgia and proclaims his love for her.
* [[Timothy Hutton]] as Matthew Kragen: The main antagonist is the arrogant, demanding and greedy owner of the retail store Georgia used to work and a self-help business magnate/guru. He feels threatened by Georgia's optimistic and wholesome personality - believing it to be an act to steer his associates and business backers away from him and makes multiple, unsuccessful attempts to humiliate her. Eventually, his insensitive behavior drives everyone away from him and causes him to hit an emotional rock bottom. In the end, the near-suicidal Kragan realizes the error of his ways through Georgia's advice to be less greedy and unhappy.
* [[Giancarlo Esposito]] as Senator Dillings: a visiting Senator and one of Kragen's business associates/ backer who is attracted to Georgia.
* [[Alicia Witt]] as Ms. Allison Burns: Kragen's young mistress/assistant. Her interactions with Georgia cause Ms. Burns to recognize the unfulfilling futility of her romantic relationship with Kragen and ultimately abandons him as his assistant and lover and goes back to school to finish her business degree.
* [[Gérard Depardieu]] as Chef Didier: A world-famous chef who prepares the meals at the Grand Hotel Pupp and one of Georgia's culinary heroes. He detests Kragen's demands for substitutions but admires Georgia's admiration of good cuisine and becomes her mentor.
* [[Jane Adams (actress, born 1965)|Jane Adams]] as Rochelle: Georgia's co-worker and friend.
* [[Susan Kellermann]] as Ms. Gunther: The cantankerous, sour-faced guest services manager at the Grand Hotel Pupp. She is initially suspicious of Georgia and is more than willing to expose her when Kragen bribes her to look through Georgia's hotel suite. However, she reforms after reading Georgia's note detailing instructions for her burial and softens towards Georgia. In the end, she receives Dr. Gupta's fax of Georgia's misdiagnosis due to a faulty scanner and is overjoyed by the news and quickly tells Georgia the good news. The end credits reveal that she became a private detective.
* [[Ranjit Chowdhry]] as Dr. Rabindranath Gupta: The mild-mannered physician at the store's clinic. He is so shocked and troubled by Georgia's terminal diagnosis that he becomes flustered and jittery, succumbing himself to extended periods of meditation. Eventually, he discovers that the scanner is faulty and that Georgia's illness was a misdiagnosis. In the end, he quits his job and becomes a monk in the Himalayas.
* [[Michael Nouri]] as Congressman Stewart: A visiting US Congressman who notices Georgia, admiring her sense of honesty. He is accompanied by his wife, Margaret who's only line is "asshole" in regards to Kragen's behavior towards Georgia - a sentiment the Congressman agrees.
* [[Jascha Washington]] as Darius: Georgia's nosy but goodhearted teenage neighbor who enjoys her cooking.
* [[Matt Ross (actor)|Matt Ross]] as Mr. Adamian: Georgia's inconsiderate boss who is almost always engaged with his flip cellphone and is borderline obsessed with Kragen's business guru advice. Georgia stands up to his bullying by smashing his phone and breaking one of his Kragen business instructional CDs. The end credits reveal that he was hit by a bus while carelessly talking on his cellphone while crossing the street.
* [[Emeril Lagasse]] as Himself
* [[Smokey Robinson]] as Himself
}}


==Production==
Back in New Orleans, Sean ponders what has happened to Georgia since she "up and quit her job" (as he puts it). He goes to Dr. Gupta, asking if he may have said something to upset her. Dr. Gupta says he's sorry, but patient confidentiality prevents him from discussing it. Sean does not accept this response and instead hoists the physician up in his arms (with no trouble at all) and intimidates Dr. Gupta into telling him the truth. Later, while attempting to knock on Georgia's door, Georgia's neighbor Darius recognizes Sean from the Possibilities book. Darius shows Sean the wedding images with the pasted photos of Georgia and Sean in it. While looking in the book, Sean discovers the most likely place that Georgia has gone - [[Karlovy Vary]]. It dawns on Sean what he has to do now. He decides to fly to the Czech Republic to find her. As Georgia is leaving the hotel and Sean is on his way to it, an [[avalanche]] on a mountain road leaves both of them unable to continue their journeys.
In the original 1950 film, the leading character of George Bird was played by [[Alec Guinness]]. Screenwriters Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman (of ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit]]'' and ''[[Doc Hollywood]]'' fame) updated the story for [[John Candy]], with [[Carl Reiner]] directing,<ref name=candy>{{cite web|last=Siskel|first=Gene|title=Sour Movies Keep Candy Just Short Of Sweet Success|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-03-30/entertainment/8601230533_1_sctv-film-summer-rental/3|date=March 30, 1986|access-date=July 26, 2015}}</ref> but the project was shelved after the actor's death in 1994. Years later, [[Queen Latifah]]'s agent read their script and suggested they revise it for her.


The gourmet cuisine seen throughout the film was prepared by chefs from the [[Food Network]], and recipes for many of the dishes, including Lobster Salad in Potato Leek Nests, Duck Hash on Toasted Baguette, Spiced Lamb Shanks with Blood Orange Relish, Roasted Quail with Brioche and Chorizo Stuffing, Risotto Barolo with Roasted Vegetables, [[Bananas Foster]] and Poulet Tchoupitoulas, were available on the network's website. In one scene, Georgia watches footage from ''[[Emeril Live]]'' to help her prepare a chicken. As part of the film's promotion, Queen Latifah appeared as a guest on Lagasse's show.
Georgia goes back to the [[hotel]], but Sean starts across the snow. At a New Year's Eve party that evening, Kragen, having found out about Georgia, exposes her identity as a saleswoman in one of his stores. Georgia explains her situation and, rather than reject her - as Kragen hopes his colleagues will - they sympathize with her and are disgusted by Kragen's insensitivity. One by one they leave the table, until Kragen is left sitting by himself. Having embarrassed himself and been rejected by Ms. Burns, Kragen goes up to the top floor of the hotel and sits on the ledge contemplating suicide. Georgia comes up to the ledge to try to persuade him to come down, and offers the advice that if he were nicer to people and less driven and greedy, he would be a happier person.


The film opened on 2,514 screens in the US, earning $12,806,188 and ranking number two in its opening weekend. It eventually grossed $38,399,961 in the US and $4,943,287 in foreign markets for a worldwide box office total of $43,343,248.<ref name="mojo"/>
At that moment, Sean arrives at the hotel and calls up to her from the sidewalk below, immediately running inside to join her on the ledge. In the lobby, Gunther comes across a fax that had come earlier that day but fell to the floor, unnoticed . It is from Dr. Gupta, who has found out that Georgia was misdiagnosed; the outdated [[CAT]] scanner the corporate clinic bought in a cost-cutting attempt was broken, generating a pattern on the film that could be misinterpreted as a tumor. Gunther rushes up to the ledge and tells Georgia that she is not dying after all.


==Reception==
Georgia and Sean return to New Orleans to get married. The end of the film shows Georgia at her new restaurant's kitchen, cooking with Chef Didier. A steady stream of customers file in as she and Sean greet them. One of these customers is, to Georgia's delight, [[Emeril Lagasse]].
Queen Latifah was nominated for the [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture]].


The aggregate site [[Rotten Tomatoes]] gives the film an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, and an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads, "Although Queen Latifah's bountiful life-affirming spirit permeates the film, director Wayne Wang is unable to revive this remake with any real flair."<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_holiday_2006|title=Last Holiday (2006)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date|df=iso}}}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' said the film "takes advantage of the great good nature and warmth of Queen Latifah, and uses it to transform a creaky old formula into a comedy that is just plain lovable. To describe the plot is to miss the point, because this plot could have been made into countless movies not as funny and charming as this one ... All depends on the Queen, who has been known to go over the top on occasion, but in this film finds all the right notes and dances to them delightfully. It is good to attend to important cinema like ''[[Syriana]]'' and ''[[Munich (2005 film)|Munich]]'', but on occasion we must be open to movies that have more modest ambitions: They only want to amuse us, warm us, and make us feel good. ''Last Holiday'' plays like a hug."<ref>{{cite news|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=Last Holiday|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060112/REVIEWS/60110003/1023|newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=January 13, 2006|access-date=January 6, 2013}}</ref>
==Main cast==
*[[Queen Latifah]] - Georgia Byrd
*[[LL Cool J]] - Sean Williams
*[[Timothy Hutton]] - Matthew Kragen
*[[Giancarlo Esposito]] - Senator Dillings
*[[Alicia Witt]] - Ms. Burns
*[[Gérard Depardieu]] - Chef Didier
*[[Jane Adams (actress)|Jane Adams]] - Rochelle
*[[Michael Estime]] - Marlon
*[[Susan Kellerman]] - Gunther
*[[Jascha Washington]] - Darius
*[[Matt Ross]] - Adamian
*[[Ranjit Chowdhry]] - Dr. Gupta
*[[Michael Nouri]] - Congressman Bob
*[[Jacqueline Fleming]] - Tanya
*[[Camille Hunt]] - Dress Shop Saleswoman
*[[Lucie Vondrackova]] - Marie
*[[David O'Kelly]] - Maitre D'
*[[Smokey Robinson]] - himself (cameo)
*[[Emeril Lagasse]] - himself (cameo)


Ruthe Stein of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' stated, "Latifah's latest vehicle inexorably marches toward an ending you can see coming from the first reel ... This harmless bit of fluff lacks the element of surprise but is not without random charming moments supplied by its incandescent star."<ref>{{cite news|last=Stein|first=Ruthe|title=Deadly diagnosis leads to fatally predictable story|url=http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Deadly-diagnosis-leads-to-fatally-predictable-2506332.php|newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|date=January 13, 2006|access-date=January 6, 2013}}</ref>
==Food Network involvement==


Jessica Reaves of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' awarded the film three out of four stars and described Queen Latifah as "soft, bold and very funny, infusing this otherwise predictable movie with a contagious charm." She added, "While this is not exactly a profound film, and the message is hardly new, it's testament to this movie's joyous energy that it doesn't matter in the least. 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."<ref>{{cite news|last=Reeves|first=Jessica|title=Movie review: ''Last Holiday''|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/mmx-060113-movies-review-holiday,0,5923938.story|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=January 13, 2006|access-date=January 6, 2013}}</ref>
The large amounts of gourmet cuisine seen throughout the film was prepared by chefs from the [[Food Network]]. The recipes of the meals shown in the film were available on the Food Network website including Lobster Salad in Potato Leek Nests, Duck Hash on Toasted Baguette, Spiced Lamb Shanks with Blood Orange Relish, Roasted Quail with Brioche and Chorizo Stuffing, Risotto Barolo with Roasted Vegetables, [[Bananas Foster]], and Poulet Tchoupitoulas.


Janet K. Keeler of the ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]'' graded the film B− and commented, "Strong performances by Latifah, LL Cool J and Depardieu, who is strangely but perfectly cast, save ''Last Holiday'' from irrelevance. Latifah is more than the funny girl with attitude we've seen in ''[[Bringing Down the House (film)|Bringing Down the House]]'', ''[[Taxi (2004 film)|Taxi]]'' and ''[[Beauty Shop]]''. She's got the goods to play the leading lady, and a sexy one at that. Latifah's performance here isn't as good as her Oscar-nominated turn in ''[[Chicago (2002 film)|Chicago]]'', but it shows off more range and a subtler touch than subsequent movies."<ref>{{cite news|last=Keeler|first=Janet|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2006/01/12/Weekend/Saving_the_best_for_l.shtml|title=Saving the best for last|newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|date=January 12, 2006|access-date=January 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806072908/http://www.sptimes.com/2006/01/12/Weekend/Saving_the_best_for_l.shtml|archive-date=August 6, 2007}}</ref>
In the scene where Georgia makes Poulet Tchoupitoulous, footage from the [[Emeril Live]] episode "Chicken Four Ways" is seen on her TV. As part of the film's promotion, Queen Latifah appeared as a guest on Lagasse's show, where he makes a variation of Poulet Tchoupitoulas substituting shrimp for the chicken.

==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*[http://www.lastholidaymovie.com/ Official site]
* {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20071016045153/http://www.lastholidaymovie.com/}}
*[http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=info&id=1808750393 ''Last Holiday''] at [[Yahoo!]] Movies
*{{imdb title|id=0408985|title=Last Holiday}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{AllMovie title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
{{Wayne Wang}}


[[Category:2006 films]]
[[Category:2006 films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:2006 romantic comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:Paramount films]]
[[Category:2000s Christmas comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Super 35]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:African-American romantic comedy-drama films]]

[[Category:American Christmas comedy-drama films]]
[[de:Noch einmal Ferien]]
[[Category:American remakes of British films]]
[[fr:Vacances sur ordonnance]]
[[Category:Films about death]]
[[it:L'ultima vacanza]]
[[Category:Films about vacationing]]
[[nl:Last Holiday]]
[[Category:Films directed by Wayne Wang]]
[[pl:Ostatnie wakacje]]
[[Category:Films produced by Laurence Mark]]
[[ru:Последний отпуск (фильм)]]
[[Category:Films scored by George Fenton]]
[[Category:Films set in department stores]]
[[Category:Films set in hotels]]
[[Category:Films set in the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Films set in New Orleans]]
[[Category:Films shot in Austria]]
[[Category:Films shot in the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Films shot in New Orleans]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman]]
[[Category:ImageMovers films]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures films]]
[[Category: Films set around New Year]]

Latest revision as of 04:23, 24 May 2024

Last Holiday
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWayne Wang
Written byJeffrey Price
Peter S. Seaman
Based onLast Holiday
by J.B. Priestley
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyGeoffrey Simpson
Edited byDeirdre Slevin
Music byGeorge Fenton
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • January 13, 2006 (2006-01-13) (United States)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$45 million
Box office$43.3 million[1]

Last Holiday is a 2006 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Wayne Wang and written by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman. The film is loosely based on the 1950 British film of the same name by J. B. Priestley. The film stars Queen Latifah as Georgia, a humble department store assistant who is told that she has a rare brain condition and only has a few weeks to live. She promptly decides to spend her remaining funds on a luxury holiday in Europe before she dies.

Price and Seaman wanted John Candy for the main role but, after Candy's death, Latifah's agent suggested a new version starring her. Produced by Robert Zemeckis' ImageMovers, the film was released by Paramount Pictures on January 13, 2006. The film underperformed at the box office, having grossed $43.3 million against a budget of $45 million and received mixed reviews from critics, though Latifah's performance was universally praised for her charm and humor.

Plot[edit]

Georgia Byrd is a shy, unassuming salesperson in the cookware department at Kragen's Department Store in New Orleans and a Baptist choir singer who longs to cook professionally. She privately records her dreams of a better life in a scrapbook labeled "Possibilities" enjoys replicating TV chef Emeril Lagasse's gourmet recipes, serving her creations to a neighbor while denying herself the pleasure of eating them.

During the Christmas season, while flirting with handsome co-worker Sean Williams, whom she has secretly featured in her scrapbook as her dream husband, Georgia bumps her head. Taken to the store's health center for a CT scan, she is told by the company physician that she has several brain tumors resulting from a rare terminal neurological disorder called Lampington's disease.

As her HMO plan does not cover the high cost of an operation, Georgia resigns herself to having only a few weeks to live. She quits her job, liquidates her assets, and sets off on a dream vacation at the deluxe Grandhotel Pupp in the Czech Republic's spa city of Karlovy Vary.

Free of inhibitions and determined to enjoy the final weeks of her life, Georgia checks into the Presidential Suite and buys a designer wardrobe in expensive boutiques. She then also makes extensive use of the hotel's spa facilities, attempts snowboarding and BASE jumping, enjoys succulent meals prepared by world-renowned Chef Didier, and wins a small fortune playing roulette in the casino.

Georgia impresses the hotel's staff, with the exception of the cantankerous guest services manager Ms. Gunther, with her naive manner and forthright kindness. She also mingles with some of the other guests, including Matthew Kragen, an arrogant self-help guru and the owner of the department store where she worked; Kragen's assistant/mistress Ms. Burns; and Louisiana power brokers Senator Dillings and Congressman Stewart. Kragen is wary of Georgia and suspects her of trying to sabotage his business, but the rest are charmed by her free spirit.

When Kragen bribes Ms. Gunther to dig up information about Georgia's background, she goes through her hotel suite. She finds a letter Georgia has written providing instructions for the disposal of her remains after her death. Moved by the letter and realizing Georgia's self-confidence and sunny optimism have touched everyone who has met her since her arrival, Ms. Gunther confesses to Georgia she snooped through her belongings and found the letter. She urges her to return home and spend her last days with those she loves.

Taking Ms. Gunther's advice, Georgia heads for the airport but discovers an avalanche has blocked the road. Unbeknownst to her, Sean, having learned of Georgia's diagnosis and ready to acknowledge his long-standing feelings for her, has flown to Europe and is in a taxi on the other side of the snowdrift, blocked from reaching her at the hotel.

Georgia returns to the hotel, and Sean leaves his taxi to hike across the snow on foot. Chef Didier invites her to assist him in the hotel's kitchen that night preparing an extravagant New Year's Eve feast and thanks her publicly at the party. Later, seated at dinner and incensed by the accolades and affection Georgia has received, Kragen tries to humiliate her to his companions by exposing her as a saleswoman in one of his stores, but Georgia confirms this and reveals her terminal illness.

Kragen's companions, disgusted by his insensitivity, embrace her and abandon him. Dejected and embarrassed, Kragen goes to an upper floor of the hotel and sits on the ledge, contemplating suicide. Georgia tries to dissuade this, suggesting if he were nicer and less driven by greed, he would be a happier person.

Sean arrives at the hotel just in time and joins Georgia on the ledge, confessing his affection for her and admitting he'd seen her scrapbook. In the lobby, Ms. Gunther finds a fax for Georgia stating she was misdiagnosed due to a faulty CT scanner and does not have Lampington's disease. Ms. Gunther rushes up to the ledge to announce the good news.

Georgia and Sean return to New Orleans as a couple where they open a restaurant, Georgia's Joint, which is visited by Chef Didier and Emeril Lagasse.

Cast[edit]

  • Queen Latifah as Georgia Byrd: The main protagonist, a shy cookware saleswoman at a retail department store with big dreams and aspirations of becoming a chef and owning her own restaurant. The untimely event learning that she seemingly diagnosed with a terminal illness encourages Georgia to quit her unfulfilling job, go on a dream vacation at the Grand Hotel Pupp and venture out of her comfort zone. She keeps a "Book of Possibilities" scrapbook, which contains everything her heart desires, from places she wants to go, foods she wants to try, people she wants to meet, and a better life.
  • LL Cool J as Sean Williams: Georgia's love interest who also works at the retail store. He genuinely reciprocates Georgia's feelings, though he never had the courage to admit it out loud, partly due the latter being shy and the former unsure if she feels the same way too. After Georgia receives her diagnosis, quits her job and disappears to the Czech Republic dream vacation, Sean quits his job and tracks her down (asking the clinic's physician and Georgia's neighbor) - having realized that "without [Georgia] there [at the store], [Sean] doesn't have a reason to be there." During the search he comes across Georgia's possibilities book and realizes that she does love him. In the end, he finds Georgia and proclaims his love for her.
  • Timothy Hutton as Matthew Kragen: The main antagonist is the arrogant, demanding and greedy owner of the retail store Georgia used to work and a self-help business magnate/guru. He feels threatened by Georgia's optimistic and wholesome personality - believing it to be an act to steer his associates and business backers away from him and makes multiple, unsuccessful attempts to humiliate her. Eventually, his insensitive behavior drives everyone away from him and causes him to hit an emotional rock bottom. In the end, the near-suicidal Kragan realizes the error of his ways through Georgia's advice to be less greedy and unhappy.
  • Giancarlo Esposito as Senator Dillings: a visiting Senator and one of Kragen's business associates/ backer who is attracted to Georgia.
  • Alicia Witt as Ms. Allison Burns: Kragen's young mistress/assistant. Her interactions with Georgia cause Ms. Burns to recognize the unfulfilling futility of her romantic relationship with Kragen and ultimately abandons him as his assistant and lover and goes back to school to finish her business degree.
  • Gérard Depardieu as Chef Didier: A world-famous chef who prepares the meals at the Grand Hotel Pupp and one of Georgia's culinary heroes. He detests Kragen's demands for substitutions but admires Georgia's admiration of good cuisine and becomes her mentor.
  • Jane Adams as Rochelle: Georgia's co-worker and friend.
  • Susan Kellermann as Ms. Gunther: The cantankerous, sour-faced guest services manager at the Grand Hotel Pupp. She is initially suspicious of Georgia and is more than willing to expose her when Kragen bribes her to look through Georgia's hotel suite. However, she reforms after reading Georgia's note detailing instructions for her burial and softens towards Georgia. In the end, she receives Dr. Gupta's fax of Georgia's misdiagnosis due to a faulty scanner and is overjoyed by the news and quickly tells Georgia the good news. The end credits reveal that she became a private detective.
  • Ranjit Chowdhry as Dr. Rabindranath Gupta: The mild-mannered physician at the store's clinic. He is so shocked and troubled by Georgia's terminal diagnosis that he becomes flustered and jittery, succumbing himself to extended periods of meditation. Eventually, he discovers that the scanner is faulty and that Georgia's illness was a misdiagnosis. In the end, he quits his job and becomes a monk in the Himalayas.
  • Michael Nouri as Congressman Stewart: A visiting US Congressman who notices Georgia, admiring her sense of honesty. He is accompanied by his wife, Margaret who's only line is "asshole" in regards to Kragen's behavior towards Georgia - a sentiment the Congressman agrees.
  • Jascha Washington as Darius: Georgia's nosy but goodhearted teenage neighbor who enjoys her cooking.
  • Matt Ross as Mr. Adamian: Georgia's inconsiderate boss who is almost always engaged with his flip cellphone and is borderline obsessed with Kragen's business guru advice. Georgia stands up to his bullying by smashing his phone and breaking one of his Kragen business instructional CDs. The end credits reveal that he was hit by a bus while carelessly talking on his cellphone while crossing the street.
  • Emeril Lagasse as Himself
  • Smokey Robinson as Himself

Production[edit]

In the original 1950 film, the leading character of George Bird was played by Alec Guinness. Screenwriters Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman (of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Doc Hollywood fame) updated the story for John Candy, with Carl Reiner directing,[2] but the project was shelved after the actor's death in 1994. Years later, Queen Latifah's agent read their script and suggested they revise it for her.

The gourmet cuisine seen throughout the film was prepared by chefs from the Food Network, and recipes for many of the dishes, including Lobster Salad in Potato Leek Nests, Duck Hash on Toasted Baguette, Spiced Lamb Shanks with Blood Orange Relish, Roasted Quail with Brioche and Chorizo Stuffing, Risotto Barolo with Roasted Vegetables, Bananas Foster and Poulet Tchoupitoulas, were available on the network's website. In one scene, Georgia watches footage from Emeril Live to help her prepare a chicken. As part of the film's promotion, Queen Latifah appeared as a guest on Lagasse's show.

The film opened on 2,514 screens in the US, earning $12,806,188 and ranking number two in its opening weekend. It eventually grossed $38,399,961 in the US and $4,943,287 in foreign markets for a worldwide box office total of $43,343,248.[1]

Reception[edit]

Queen Latifah was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture.

The aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 55% based on 123 reviews, and an average rating of 5.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Although Queen Latifah's bountiful life-affirming spirit permeates the film, director Wayne Wang is unable to revive this remake with any real flair."[3] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times said the film "takes advantage of the great good nature and warmth of Queen Latifah, and uses it to transform a creaky old formula into a comedy that is just plain lovable. To describe the plot is to miss the point, because this plot could have been made into countless movies not as funny and charming as this one ... All depends on the Queen, who has been known to go over the top on occasion, but in this film finds all the right notes and dances to them delightfully. It is good to attend to important cinema like Syriana and Munich, but on occasion we must be open to movies that have more modest ambitions: They only want to amuse us, warm us, and make us feel good. Last Holiday plays like a hug."[4]

Ruthe Stein of the San Francisco Chronicle stated, "Latifah's latest vehicle inexorably marches toward an ending you can see coming from the first reel ... This harmless bit of fluff lacks the element of surprise but is not without random charming moments supplied by its incandescent star."[5]

Jessica Reaves of the Chicago Tribune awarded the film three out of four stars and described Queen Latifah as "soft, bold and very funny, infusing this otherwise predictable movie with a contagious charm." She added, "While this is not exactly a profound film, and the message is hardly new, it's testament to this movie's joyous energy that it doesn't matter in the least. 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."[6]

Janet K. Keeler of the St. Petersburg Times graded the film B− and commented, "Strong performances by Latifah, LL Cool J and Depardieu, who is strangely but perfectly cast, save Last Holiday from irrelevance. Latifah is more than the funny girl with attitude we've seen in Bringing Down the House, Taxi and Beauty Shop. She's got the goods to play the leading lady, and a sexy one at that. Latifah's performance here isn't as good as her Oscar-nominated turn in Chicago, but it shows off more range and a subtler touch than subsequent movies."[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Last Holiday". BoxOfficeMojo. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  2. ^ Siskel, Gene (March 30, 1986). "Sour Movies Keep Candy Just Short Of Sweet Success". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  3. ^ "Last Holiday (2006)", Rotten Tomatoes, Fandango, retrieved 2021-10-07 Edit this at Wikidata
  4. ^ Ebert, Roger (January 13, 2006). "Last Holiday". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  5. ^ Stein, Ruthe (January 13, 2006). "Deadly diagnosis leads to fatally predictable story". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  6. ^ Reeves, Jessica (January 13, 2006). "Movie review: Last Holiday". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  7. ^ Keeler, Janet (January 12, 2006). "Saving the best for last". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on August 6, 2007. Retrieved January 6, 2013.

External links[edit]

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