King #adoptdontshop’s review published on Letterboxd:
Absolutely brillant.
Being away from family during Christmas season is already hard enough on its own - but imagine being stuck in school with your terror professor and your grieving cook? Nightmare! That’s the promise of bittersweet drama The Holdovers. This movie is simply outstanding, transporting viewers to an authentic looking 70s time capsule with its atmosphere, colors, fashion and overall vibes.
To be fair, nothing truly gobsmacking nor grand happened in the plot, but the development of the main characters is heart pinching; with each layers or their truth and ambiguities being peeled off beautifully as The Holdovers progresses. The melancholic humor lined the storytelling as well - making it pleasant, earnest, and has moments of depth and thoughtfulness. The classist themes didn’t feel padded nor overdone too.
Paul Giamatti sold his role a thousand folds over. He was irritating and unfeeling; effortlessly asking us to hate his outlook in life - which then changed when his redemption arc shone in those tender moments. Meanwhile, Dominic Sessa is a diamond in the rough, a serviceable performance with glimpses of a bright acting future ahead. Da'Vine Joy Randolph is fine but a little short of riveting IMHO.
Sublime and cohesive, every facet of the film came together. It would be unsurprising if The Holdovers became a Christmas classic.
