Last Holiday (2006)

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

• Queen Latifah as Georgia Byrd
• LL Cool J as Sean Williams
• Timothy Hutton as Matthew Kragen
• Giancarlo Esposito as Senator Dillings
• Alicia Witt as Ms. Allison Burns
• Gérard Depardieu as Chef Didier
• Jane Adams as Rochelle: Georgia’s co-worker and friend.
• Susan Kellermann as Ms. Gunther
• Ranjit Chowdhry as Dr. Rabindranath Gupta
• Jascha Washington as Darius
• Matt Ross as Mr. Adamian
• Emeril Lagasse as Himself
• Smokey Robinson as Himself

Storyline:

The discovery that she has a terminal illness prompts introverted saleswoman Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) to reflect on what she realizes has been an overly cautious life. So Georgia withdraws her life savings and jets off to Europe where she lives like a millionaire. Upbeat and passionate, Georgia charms everybody she meets, including renowned Chef Didier (Gérard Depardieu). The only one missing from her new life is her longtime crush Sean Matthews (LL Cool J).

About Last Holiday Movie:

Last Holiday is an American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Wayne Wang, loosely based on the 1950 British film of the same name by J.B. Priestley. The screenplay was written by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman, with Queen Latifah starring as Georgia Byrd, a humble department store assistant who learns she has a rare brain condition and only weeks to live. Faced with this grim diagnosis, Georgia decides to spend her life savings on a luxurious holiday in Europe, specifically at a high-end resort in the Czech Republic.

Produced by Robert Zemeckis’ ImageMovers and released by Paramount Pictures on January 13, 2006, Last Holiday had a budget of $45 million but grossed only $43.3 million at the box office, marking it as a financial disappointment despite its uplifting themes. The film received mixed reviews from critics; while some praised Queen Latifah’s performance for its charm and humor, others criticized the screenplay for being predictable and formulaic.

Latifah’s portrayal of Georgia earned her a nomination for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. The film holds a 55% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating mixed reviews overall. Critics noted that while the plot was somewhat contrived, Latifah’s engaging presence made the film enjoyable. Roger Ebert described it as “lovable” and emphasized the importance of its feel-good nature.

In the end, Georgia discovers that she was misdiagnosed and is not actually dying, leading to a happy conclusion where she embraces her second chance at life and pursues her dreams. The film concludes with her marrying Sean (LL Cool J) and opening her own restaurant, highlighting themes of self-discovery and living life to the fullest.

Budget & Box Office Collection: