She may have just gotten a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but lately the star that is Queen Latifah has been shining a bit dully. Her last attempts at the box office ("Beauty Shop," "Taxi") turned out to be box office fluff rather than gold and Latifah's newest, "Last Holiday," could be thrown into the same category.
However, "Holiday" succeeds at being more endearing and doesn't try as hard to be funny unlike the other movies.
The movie (a remake of a 1950s film) tackles the age-old question: What would you do if you only had three weeks to live? Georgia Bryd (Latifah) has the tough job being the test subject in order to discover the answer.
Bryd is a sales associate in the cookware department of a Kragen's store while she aspires to be a chef. She also dreams of marrying one of her co-workers, Sean Matthews (LL Cool J in a somewhat unnecessary role). All of her hopes and dreams are pasted into her book of possibilities - she's too reserved to actually attempt anything, though. A bump on the head changes everything.
She's told by a doctor that she only has about three weeks to live and from then on Bryd takes those possibilities and makes them her reality while she can. She heads to a European ski resort for her 'last holiday' where she plans to snowboard, take full advantage of the spa and meet one of her idols, chef Didier (the flirtatious Frenchman, Gerard Depardieu).
While there she meets up with the not-so-nice owner of her former place of employment, Matthew Kragen (Timothy Hutton), and his business associates who also happen to be Congressmen. Since she's throwing around her money, she impresses them enough to think she's some sort of spy from a competing store or a watchdog organization.
Bryd charms everyone, just as Latifah is charming in the role. When her secret is spilled to all those around her, it's easy to see why no one would want her to die.
The lead actors are all well fit to their roles. Hutton as the evil Kragen is the perfect fit, as his facial features make him a great villian.
One of the best scenes -- and lines -- of the movie comes from Julie LaShae who plays Bryd's contact for her HMO. Bryd's expensive surgery isn't covered under her plan and LaShae tallies up how much it would be to pay out of pocket, minus the anesthesia.
Much of "Holiday" centers around cooking. Bryd cooks extravagant dinners for her neighbor while she eats Lean Cuisine, she does cooking demonstrations in the store and she orders everything on the menu at the resort. Emeril Lagasse even makes a cameo (appropriate since Food Network did all the cooking for the movie), but he doesn't get the chance to spout out his catchphrase.
The movie's message is a good one, live life to the fullest before it's too late. The ending, actually the entire movie, is predictable, but it doesn't matter. "Last Holiday" is fun to watch.
"Last Holiday" opens everywhere Friday, Jan. 13.
Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.
However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.
Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson.
Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.
