LAST HOLIDAY
A warm, funny Christian comedy for mature audiences—with PG-13 content.
Should You Watch It?
Last Holiday is a rare four-star feel-good comedy. Queen Latifah makes Georgia Byrd both a laugh riot and a deeply warm presence, while the story gives her a compassionate, no-nonsense spirit and a Christian faith that remains central to her life. The movie’s message about refusing to hide your gifts under timidity is encouraging, and its moral center includes a clear rebuke of adultery.
The cost is its −2 family-content rating. The film contains about 20 mostly light obscenities, vulgar sexual innuendo, romantic elements, adultery, alcohol and drunkenness, and some mature situations involving tragedy and suicide. Its “live life to the fullest” message is partly romantic rather than distinctly Christian.
Adults who can handle that material should find a funny, moving story with real spiritual warmth. Keep it away from children and young teens.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESGeorgia Byrd is a shy New Orleans department-store clerk who loves cooking and keeps her dreams in a diary called her Possibilities Book. After a medical diagnosis changes her understanding of the future, Georgia decides to spend her savings on one extraordinary trip to a Swiss hotel where her favorite chef works.
There, her new boldness draws unexpected attention from her employer’s owner and his influential companions. Georgia’s romantic interest, Sean, also becomes part of the journey, leading to more complications—and more chances for her to stop hiding her light.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a wholehearted recommendation for the right audience. The movie is very funny and heartwarming, and the plot is well constructed. Queen Latifah carries the comedy beautifully as Georgia, but she also gives the character considerable warmth.
The film’s strongest quality is its balance of humor and heart. Georgia’s compassionate, direct personality makes her easy to root for, while the romantic story adds comic jeopardy without displacing the movie’s Christian center. It is a polished feel-good comedy, though its mature content keeps the recommendation from extending to younger viewers.
The Worldview
Last Holiday presents a strong Christian worldview with strong moral elements. Georgia is a churchgoing Christian who talks to God, sings in the choir, and wrestles honestly with what God may be doing through tragedy. The film ultimately shows God as benevolently watching over her, while Georgia’s pastor encourages her to sing more loudly—an image that supports the movie’s central call not to hide one’s light.
The movie also rebukes adultery and gives Georgia a no-nonsense moral clarity that cuts through conceit, bribery, and selfish ambition. Its Christian message is mitigated by a “live life to the fullest” theme used in a romantic sense as well as a mild Christian sense, rather than in the sense of Matthew 6:33. A possible reference to reincarnation and a comical reference to Buddhism during the credits further complicate the picture.
The film’s central longing is to live openly and faithfully rather than wait passively for better days. Jesus says, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14), and this movie’s best lesson is that such light should not remain hidden.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong Christian worldview with strong moral elements, including a rebuke of adultery, churchgoing Christian woman talks to God, a couple scenes of singing in church, people say Praise the Lord at least once and Thank you, God more than once, God turns out to be benevolently watching over the protagonist all along, and signs by church say, "Put Christ back into Christmas" and "Jesus is the reason" (for the season appears to be blocked out by bushes), mitigated by some Romantic elements about living life to the fullest, but not in the sense of Matthew 6:33, by plenty of mostly light foul language, by some questioning of God's plan for one's life when tragedy strikes, by possible reference to reincarnation, and by a reference to the villain becoming a Buddhist during the credits, done in a comical way; about 20 mostly light obscenities, 11 light profanities and a couple vulgarities; some comical violence such as pratfalls, slapstick comedy involving snowboarding and skiing, woman wearing parachute jumps off very high dam, and drunken man sits on high ledge contemplating suicide but other people comically come to his rescue; no sex scenes, but references to older man's adultery with his young female assistant, minor female character makes a vulgar comment about a man's rear end, fantasy scene of man making eyes at heroine and licking his lips, and woman tells masseuse (in euphemistic but vulgar term) that younger woman's neck pain is probably the result of oral sex with married man; nude statues at hotel, women lie face down on masseuse tables with towels draped over them, flashes of upper male nudity, and female cleavage; alcohol use and drunkenness; no smoking; and, woman questions God's plan for her life when tragedy strikes but finds that God has been in her corner all along, spying on people's privacy, conceit, gambling, and bribery.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Georgia has spent much of her life hiding her abilities and desires. Where might God be asking you to use your gifts more openly?
Matthew 5:14–16 · 1 Peter 4:10Georgia questions God’s plan when tragedy strikes. How can Christians bring doubt and grief honestly to God while still trusting Him?
Psalm 13 · Romans 8:28The film rebukes adultery and shows the damage caused by selfish choices. What does faithfulness require in marriage and in other relationships?
Exodus 20:14 · Hebrews 13:4Georgia chooses to stop waiting for life to begin. How can we pursue meaningful, faithful living without confusing courage with selfishness?
Matthew 6:33 · Ephesians 5:15–16The Final Word
Last Holiday is funny, tender, and unusually open about Christian faith. Its foul language, sexual innuendo, adultery, alcohol, and mature situations make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For a younger family audience, see.
