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Directed By
Lance Rivera
Written By:
Lance Rivera, Marc Calixte
Cast:
Terrence Howard, Gabrielle Union, Queen Latifah, Morris Chestnut, Rachel True, Katt Williams, Jill Marie Jones, Charles Q. Murphy, Faizon Love, Maria Ford, Dennis Funny, Dennis Albanese, Modi, Paul Thornton, Gloria Parks, John Farrer, Pedro Kim, Conor Carroll, Lydia A. Butler, Malik Hammond, Jeremy Gumbs, Didi Gruenwald, Dylan Hartigan, Amber Joy Williams, Khail Bryant, Lisa Datz, Zoe Portanova
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The Perfect Holiday (2007)
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Movie Review by Jarrod
December 19th, 2007
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'The Perfect Holiday' is sugary, predictable tripe. I almost expected it to debut on the Hallmark or Lifetime channel rather than in theaters, and unlike This Christmas, 'The Perfect Holiday' squanders the talents of its predominantly African-American cast, which features big names like Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union, Queen Latifah and Terrence Howard, not to mention Eddie Murphy's not-so-famous brother Charlie and comedian Katt Williams. Latifah was in Last Holiday a few years ago, and that film had a lot of charm. Union is Nancy, who has one wish for Christmas, for a nice man to come into her life and show her what real love is. Nancy has three kids, and has split with her husband, J-Jizzy (Murphy), an arrogant rapper. John John (Malik Hammond), her oldest son, wants his parents back together, even though there is no reason to believe Jizzy was ever a good or responsible father, thus you have to wonder why the boy seems to care so much about him. Emily (Khali Bryant), Nancy's daughter, takes her mother's wish and reveals it to Santa, who just happens to be a handsome aspiring musician named Benjamin (Chestnut). So, he and Nancy fall in love, but their romance is hindered by a lack of chemistry and a paucity of scenes that would actually allow them to get to know each other, not that the weak dialogue could properly express their heartfelt emotions.
Benjamin lies to Nancy, tells her he sells office supplies, hides the fact that he wants to be in the music industry, and has even made a contract with Jizzy, who ends up stealing one of his songs and recording it for a Christmas album. I don't really understand why he had to lie to her in the first place; I am sure she would have found it sweet that he was playing Santa to earn some extra money, and the truth about his career is not so bad, Nancy doesn't really have a job, either, she lives off of alimony.. Everything happens because of plot convenience, and because conflict needs to be generated, because Benjamin and Nancy need to get upset at each other's dishonesty, and then inevitably reconcile and realize they are "perfect" for one another.
Latifah and Howard are Mrs. Christmas and Mr. Bah Humbug, who show up at certain points in the story, in a variety of silly costumes, to make comments and observations, and both seek to manipulate events, and both roles are like those good and evil representations of a person's conscience (angel and devil, if you prefer) one sees so often in cartoons and sitcoms. And Benjamin is subjected to pranks by John John in an effort to drive him away, and this is a failed attempt at comedy ripped right from the Ice Cube disaster Are We There Yet? Chestnut and Union are attractive, smart people. They deserve better than this disposable, forgettable garbage.
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