Released: 01/13/06

Viewed: 2:25pm 01/13/06

Starring: Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton, Alicia Witt, Gerard Depardieu

Directed by: Wayne Wang

Paramount Official Site of the movie

Everyone plays the "What if" game. What would you do if you found out you were going to die? How would you spend that time? Last Holiday is a great look at someone who reverses their life from worry and expectation, to proactive enjoyment. Georgia Byrd's (Queen Latifah) choice to take the ultimate vacation to experience every pampering pleasure and extreme sport imaginable, results in her finding her true self. It's funny, heartwarming, and uplifting.

Oh, and obvious and boring.

Ok, that's a little harsh. I say "obvious" because the ending of the movie is painfully clear from the moment she discovers the life crushing disease. The only question is how will they build up to that. The answer is "very slowly".

It takes forever for her to actually commit to the vacation and get there. Understandably so there is a lot of necessary set up. We have to meet her, see her repressing her hopes and dreams, see her find out she's dying, and? oh, I guess that wasn't too much to cover. The problem is it's covered with too much attention. Director Wayne Wang doesn't give enough credit to his audience and over explains every nuance. We're not idiots. Get on with the show.

I was relieved when she finally gets on the plane and starts living like a person that's going to be dead in 3 weeks. There was some humor, some charm, and a lot of things that made me remember that I actually like Queen Latifah as an actress. And this isn't even her typical role. She's not sassy or larger than life, or stereotypically ghetto. She actually transforms from shy and reserved into outgoing and confident. It's a solid performance from an actress that's really coming into her own.

Slamming on the breaks is the introduction of a silly sub plot involving politicians and a "get rich quick" guru. All of this is necessary to set up a network of characters to act as advisories and support. Most of it's fine, and it's not really an over complicated story, but I did find myself very annoyed by the Timothy Hutton character who acts as Georgia's primary rival.

While the rivalry was needed, and did offer up some funny moments, it felt out of place. Hutton was just pure evil. There was no good in him at all. Even at the end, when there's a subtle glimpse, it's brushed away with closing comments. A character like that works great in a Police Academy movie, but everything else here was above that.

This movie gives us LL Cool J for the first time as a romantic leading man. I like LL. He's done some cool movies, and I applaud him taking this role. It introduces him to a new league. It's a step in the right direction to making him an actual movie star. And he's good. Funny, cool, kind of geeky. It was a good choice for him.

For the Queen too. If there's one thing she does right is pick movies roles. You can throw Taxi in my face if you want, but it made money, and to get to the next step in the movie business, that's all that matters. Thankfully with films like Last Holiday, Bringing Down the House, Chicago some of those choices are not only good for her career, but also good in content.

I'm giving it a positive 5.5 out of 10 because even though the pacing sort of killed it for me there are some fun moments, and it does partially bring itself back from the dead in the third chapter. That's not really enough for me to recommend it, but judging by all the old ladies packing the theater when Yeo and I saw it, it'll do just fine. .

DVD worthy?: I'm sure my mother would love it, but I'll pass. It's nice for what it is, but I prefer my rappers turned actors shooting at people on screen.

If you liked this movie check out: Joe Versus the Volcano

If I found out I was going to die I would watch Joe Versus the Volcano non-stop. Not really. Maybe once. I choose it because of the similar theme, but that's all they have in common.

Tom Hanks finds out he's going to die and accepts an opportunity to spend the last days of his life in the lap of luxury, with the promise that he'll sacrifice himself to an angry volcano god when he's about to die. Not weird enough for you? Meg Ryan plays 3 parts in the movie. Can you hear thousands of people running to adjust their netflix cue?

Trailer Hitch: Madea's Family Reunion

Director/writer/actor Tyler Perry has created his own little world, and in it he's chosen to portray himself as an angry black woman. Funny, but weird. Last years Diary of a Mad Black Woman was an unexpected success hitting a strong note with a lot of people. I think because, even with all the drag, there's a lot of truth to Tyler Perry's writing. And that makes the humor even funnier.

This years offering Madea's Family Reunion looks like a serious turn, but the trailer could be misleading. I would expect the same sassy jokes, and warm family togetherness. And drag. Did I mention the drag?

Today's incentive is a disturbing continuation of today's comic. I would say it's even slightly more disturbing, but I know a few of you that will get a laugh out of it.

Thanks to everyone that went to Clickwheel to get a sneak peek of the Last Holiday strip. I've added the strip for Grandma's Boy which will go up at JLCM Wednesday or Thursday. I'm also hoping to get a very special Crappy Movies strip up there this week. The very first strip ever done, that never made it to the index. There's a reason why. More on that when I've got it set to go.

The Golden Globes are on tonight, and I'm interested, but kind of bothered since there's so much good TV on now. If there's anything about the ceremony that peeks my interested I'll do a strip about it for Thursday. But it's gotta be something good.

Oh, last thing. How many people recognize Irv's 2011 outfit from the Bloodrayne strip? Just curious. See you tomorrow!