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The Perfect Holiday
Metascore
32 out of 100

Generally unfavorable - based on 22 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 22
  3. Negative: 13 out of 22
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  1. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Andy Spletzer
    75
    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.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Whitney Pastorek
    67
    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.
  3. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    63
    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.
  4. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    50
    Strives to be nothing more than easygoing and heartwarming.
  5. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    50
    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.
  6. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Ryan Stewart
    50
    An inoffensive piece of seasonal movie-muzak.
  7. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    50
    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
  8. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Michael Rechtshaffen
    40
    If "This Christmas" served up a crowd-pleasing portion of yuletide "Soul Food," then The Perfect Holiday offers dried-out leftovers.
  9. Variety
    Reviewed by: John Anderson
    40
    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.
  10. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    38
    If you're really hoping for a perfect holiday, steer clear of this stale fruitcake of a comedy.
  11. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    38
    For a family-friendly holiday comedy, it's still coarse, formulaic and occasionally just plain weird.
  12. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    33
    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.
  13. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    30
    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.
  14. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Julia Wallace
    30
    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.
  15. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    30
    Watching the movie is like reaching into a Christmas stocking and pulling out handfuls of cheap plastic toys that are broken.
  16. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Ann Hornaday
    30
    A piece of holiday cheese that even Harry & David wouldn't touch.
  17. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    25
    Most of the comedy comes from dull situations like a fat guy trying to put on a fat suit for no reason.
  18. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Carrie Rickey
    25
    Sappy script. Cheesy supernaturalism. Tired satire.
  19. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Marc Mohan
    25
    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.
  20. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Connie Ogle
    12
    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.
  21. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    12
    You want to make lemonade from this, but even the lemons stink.
  22. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: J.R. Jones
    10
    Wretched yuletide comedy.
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User Reviews

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User Score
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No user score yet- Awaiting 2 more ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 1 out of 1
  1. JamesV.
    1
    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!!!!… Full Review »
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