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Perfect Holiday, The
Yari Film Group


5.5

based on 22 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 2 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

FILM:

The Cookout

MPAA RATING: PG for brief language and some suggestive humor

Starring Queen Latifah, Terrence Howard, Faizon Love, Gabrielle Union, and Morris Chestnut

An African American take on the classic and beloved Christmas family film, The Perfect Holiday tells the story of Nancy, a divorced mother of three who is so busy raising her children that she’s forgotten to take care of herself as well. With Christmas fast approaching, she decides to take her kids to the mall to meet Santa Claus, not knowing that her youngest daughter Emily has sensed her mother’s sadness and is determined to use her time with Santa to make her mom happy again. Just a few days prior, Emily heard her mom say that all she wanted for Christmas was a compliment from a man, so that’s exactly what she tells Santa. Ironically, Santa, as it turns out, is office supply salesman and struggling songwriter Benjamin, who ends up giving Nancy just what she wants for Christmas, and much, much more. (Yari Film Group)

GENRE(S):	Family/Kids \| Romance
WRITTEN BY:	Jeff Stein Nat Mauldin Marc Calixte Lance Rivera
DIRECTED BY:	Lance Rivera
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: November 4, 2008 Theatrical: December 12, 2007
RUNNING TIME:	104 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Andy Spletzer

Either you're in the mood for a sweet and simple Christmas movie or you're not. If you are, then Perfect Holiday should fit the bill nicely.

Entertainment Weekly Whitney Pastorek

Why throw in a bizarre device involving Queen Latifah as a narrating angel and a creepy, sallow Terrence Howard as her adversary? Their A-list names may be a draw, but it's too bad no one thought the endearing performances in this charming (if cliché) family romance would be enough.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

There's not much original about the film, but it's played with high spirits and good cheer, there are lots of musical interludes, and it's pitched straight at families.

Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

Strives to be nothing more than easygoing and heartwarming.

Premiere Ryan Stewart

An inoffensive piece of seasonal movie-muzak.

Salon.com Andrew O'Hehir

There's almost no such thing as an entertaining holiday trifle anymore -- the kind of casual, cheerful little picture that you might see on a whim and end up enjoying, even beyond the breadth of your modest expectations. The Perfect Holiday is an attempt, at least, to resurrect the idea of the trifle

San Francisco Chronicle David Wiegand

May be far from perfect, but the big question is why you're sitting in a movie theater watching it instead of cuddling up at home with the remote in one hand and a steaming toddy in the other.

The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen

If "This Christmas" served up a crowd-pleasing portion of yuletide "Soul Food," then The Perfect Holiday offers dried-out leftovers.

Variety John Anderson

Neither perfect nor much of a holiday, more like a fruitcake passed around from arthritic aunt to demented uncle -- stale, predictable and made with fossilized ingredients.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

If you're really hoping for a perfect holiday, steer clear of this stale fruitcake of a comedy.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

For a family-friendly holiday comedy, it's still coarse, formulaic and occasionally just plain weird.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

It's a measure of the film's lack of imagination that Morris Chestnut, as an aspiring songwriter logging time as a mall Santa, can't even think of a good fake occupation.

Washington Post Ann Hornaday

A piece of holiday cheese that even Harry & David wouldn't touch.

The New York Times Stephen Holden

Watching the movie is like reaching into a Christmas stocking and pulling out handfuls of cheap plastic toys that are broken.

Village Voice Julia Wallace

The actors distinguish themselves mainly by their ability to make the material, directed and co-written by Lance Rivera, seem even more painfully awkward and unfunny than it already is--which is very.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

Far from perfect and about as much fun as a holiday in Cambodia, this is lightweight yuletide fluffery, offensive neither in tone nor spirit but entirely unnecessary.

Portland Oregonian Marc Mohan

This moronic yuletide time-waster might work as a way to grab a few winks at the mall during last-minute shopping, but it's not going to end up as a highlight on the resume of anyone involved.

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Sappy script. Cheesy supernaturalism. Tired satire.

New York Post Kyle Smith

Most of the comedy comes from dull situations like a fat guy trying to put on a fat suit for no reason.

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

You want to make lemonade from this, but even the lemons stink.

Miami Herald Connie Ogle

A lot like getting socks for Christmas: Better than finding coal in your stocking but not exactly as thrilling as unwrapping a big-screen HDTV.

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

Wretched yuletide comedy.

The average user rating for this movie is 5.5 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

James V. gave it a1:
The score of 1 is only because it's a holiday movie with a somewhat happy and cute ending. Other than that, it was a tedious waste of my time. There was absolutely no chemistry between the characters. If you want to see Terrence Howard, Queen Latifah and Gabrielle Union humiliate themselves this is the movie for you. Malik Hammond who plays a thirteen year old boy ends up being the best actor in this film. From the sets, to the writing to the acting, it was a Perfect Disaster that should have never made it to the big screen!!!!

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Perfect Holiday, The Yari Film Group

Perfect Holiday, The
Yari Film Group