|
 Rated: PG
Starring: Gabrielle Union, Morris Chestnut, Queen Latifah, Terrence Howard, Charlie Murphy
Directed by: Lance Rivera
Although The Perfect Holiday is sometimes fun to
watch, it"s not so perfect. The love
story is cute, but it kind of gets away from Director Rivera, who turns it into
a marathon situation comedy/drama. If you
are looking for a not-so-ordinary Christmas story, however, this one will do
the trick.
Nancy (Union),
a well-to-do divorced mother of three has been so busy raising her children
since the separation, that she’s now missing the romance that has gone out of
her life. With Christmas fast approaching, she decides to take the kids to the
mall to meet Santa Claus.
Her daughter
Emily (Bryant) has sensed her mother's sadness, so she tells Santa what she
believes is a wish her mother would make.
The mall Santa (Chestnut as Benjamin), a common guy who is using this
job to supplement his meager income as a song writer, gets a look at Nancy and decides to make
her wish come true. When Benjamin
finally sells a song to a big rock star J-Jizzy (Murphy), Nancy’s ex-husband, he doesn’t realize the complications it ends
up causing him.
The film
has some warm moments, but not enough to make it a true Christmas story. Much of the commotion caused by the children
in the film, and off-beat comments by background actors Latifah and Howard, give
the movie an Are We There Yet crazed feeling instead of a warm and
toasty family sentiment.
Totally miscast,
Murphy tries to give his character that egotistical rock star look, but goes
way over the top, which actually causes a distraction from the comedy instead
of assisting it. Actually, he just
doesn’t look like a person Nancy
would have married in the first place, much less stay with through three
children.
On the
other hand, Faizon Love gives his funniest performance yet as Benjamin’s buddy
Jamal who tries to aid him in his quest to ‘get the girl of his dreams'. I loved his interpretation of Santa’s
sidekick elf that ends up dressing as Santa when Benjamin cannot make it to the
mall on time. It is the funniest scene
of the film.
I know I’m
being a little harsh on this small film that's supposed to bring laughter and
love during the holidays, but director Rivera just doesn’t make it as a
screenwriter and we are not treated to the ‘perfect holiday’ film.
FINAL ANALYSIS:
The Perfect Holiday is not so perfect, but if This Christmas
has already left the theatres, it’s an okay second choice.
This Reviewer's Rating:    2.5 / 5
|
