Python Hyena Last Holiday (2006): Dir: Wayne Wang / Cast: Queen Latifah, L.L. Cool J., Timothy Hutton, Gerard Depardiau, Alicia Witt: Warm and delightful comedy about chances and living. Queen Latifah plays a cook who learns that she has only three weeks to live. She quits her job when her boss refuses to listen to reason, and decides to spend her savings doing everything she always wanted to do. This surprises the wealthy at the hotel she is staying at because of her nature. Setup works due to pacing but structure is formula and predictable. Conclusion demonstrates that happiness transpires from natural things that money cannot necessarily buy. An improvement for director Wayne Wang who previously made the awful Maid in Manhattan. Latifah holds strong playing off innocence as well as the willingness to excel without overshadowing others. L.L. Cool J. plays the standard potential boyfriend. Timothy Hutton plays the stereotypical rich snob who will get put in his place. The only supporting role that seems to elevate is Gerard Depardiau as the famous chef wooed by Latifah's love for food. And how about Alicia Witt as that snide spiteful bitch whom Latifah must give a lesson to on what life is like when you don't act like you're constantly on your period. Technically well made with great location work. Film suggests viewers to live life to the fullest as this is you last holiday. Score: 8 / 10

vincentlynch-moonoi This is a good movie, and I enjoyed Queen Latifah in her starring role as a doomed (well, sort of) character on a final fling. She's a good actress! However, in my view, the film was missing something -- a spark -- the spark of romance. Yes, she and LL Cool J's characters love each other, but we see that in the beginning and end, and almost not at all throughout the main body of the film. I think that was a mistake. It's kinda difficult to have a love story without the two people who are in love being together much.On the other hand, Queen's character did not put Timothy Hutton's boss character down, as she could have, and as some directors and screenwriters would probably have wanted the character to do. But that would have been low class. And here, Queen's character is not low class. Good job director and screenwriter(s).There's little to criticize with the acting here. Not that it's stellar, but it is solid. As already mentioned, Queen does nicely. LL Cool J has matured as an actor since this film; he does okay here, but is not a stand out. Timothy Hutton does nicely as the "villain" here; plays it about right. I don't usually care much for Gérard Depardieu, but he does nicely here as the European chef. And, Alicia Witt does reasonably well as the love interest with Hutton.This could have been a much better film...and probably made a profit...had they played up the love interest more between Queen and LL. But, it is what it is, and I've watched it twice now and enjoyed it both times. A "7", but only barely.

gregeichelberger Originally published on Jan. 10, 2006:You may have begun to think that after such flops as "Taxi," "Bringing Down the House," "Beauty Shop" and "Barber Shop," Queen Latifah's film career peaked with her Oscar- nominated performance in "Chicago" in 2001. That opinion may change a little after viewing her latest effort, "Last Holiday," a cute comedy about a dying woman who goes on a spending spree during her last few weeks on Earth.Basically, it's a remake of the 1950 Alec Guinness film (he was better), as well as Jerry Lewis' "Hook, Line & Sinker" (1969) in which he runs up thousands of dollars in expenses following a terminal diagnosis.Latifah is 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 dreaming of a better life, as well as the affections of a co-worker, Sean Williams (LL Cool J).She's lonely and shy, and even keeps a book of "Possiblities" in which she places notes and photos of her fondest desires. An accidental bump on the head, though, causes her cautious world to come tumbling down as an MRI reveals that she has the fatal "Lamingham's Disease," a previously undiagnosed malady that gives her just three weeks to live.Faced with her own upcoming mortality, and the fact that she has salted away a considerable sum of cash, Georgia decides to take the trip of her dreams, the Grandhotel Pupp in Czechoslovakia.There, she somehow charms her way into the hearts of a U.S. senator (Giancarlo Espisito, "Derailed"), a congressman (Michael Nouri, "The Terminal"), a world famous chef (Gerard Depardieu), and the mistress of the department store's owner (Alicia Witt, "The Upside Of Anger").Only the sleazy mogul, Matthew Kragen (Timothy Hutton, Oscar-winner for "Ordinary People") sees through her, but she bungles through, excelling at snowboarding – even though she has never done it before – and bank-jumping off a huge dam. Finally, Sean (who somehow had enough cash on hand to do so) makes the Transatlantic journey to find his beloved, about the same time as her doctor, Gupta (Ranjit Chowdhry), discovers some important news. Premise is pretty silly, considering Georgia is only given three weeks to live (which seems a pretty short duration), plus, she seemingly has an endless supply of funds for a department store sales rep.In one particularly ridiculous scene, she complains about flying economy class, asks how much it costs to be in first class, and, in the next scene, is flying up front. The slapstick sequences (including Georgia hurling down a ski slope out of control and wiping out Kragen and a dozen others) are also pretty lame.Overall, though, the film is basically harmless, silly and entertaining. It won't win any awards, but it is a decent diversion for January, and that's not such a bad thing.

blanche-2 Queen Latifah plays Georgia Byrd, a woman on her "Last Holiday" in this 2006 film also starring Timothy Hutton, Gerard Depardieu, L.L. Cool J, Alicia Witt, and Giancarlo Esposito. Georgia works in the cookware department of a big department store chain. She's incredibly popular with customers, and at home, she keeps a "possibilities" scrapbook with recipes she's cooked copying her idol, Emeril Lagasse, photos of exotic places, and a photo of her married to her dream man (Cool J) who works with her. But her dream of a restaurant, marriage, a family - she's too shy to really go after them. Then she learns that she only has three weeks to live. She cashes in all of her retirement menu and sets off for Prague. There, she entrances everyone she meets and is unafraid to say what she thinks or take chances. Her popularity and attitudes rankle the owner of the store where she worked (Hutton) who is suspicious of her.Queen Latifah is a natural actress who radiates warmth and honesty in her portrayal of Georgia Byrd. Borrowing from "Nothing Sacred" and "Living it Up," the script emphasizes living life for all its worth and not being afraid to take chances.For all its simplicity, "Last Holiday" leaves the viewer feeling very good. It's predictable, somewhat generic, but delightful, with very good performances and the beautiful scenery of Prague as a backdrop.