Looking Back on ‘Last Holiday,’ It Just Turned Sweet Sixteen

Last Holiday film poster.

When considering the role capitalism plays in a modern day employee’s life, Last Holiday highlights how insignificant employees become. Jobs can turn into one’s entire being, so much so that paused dreams may never form into reality. Founder and CEO salaries make beyond a living wage, but rarely step foot into the office or factory for extended long hours. Although worker strikes against problematic conditions like racism, sexism, and time off have forever existed, the current pandemic brought forward countless discrepancies— bodies severely overworked among rising death and ultimately replaced.   

Georgia (Queen Latifah) allows her voice to be drowned out in the church choir.

The sixteen-year-old Last Holiday is a remake of the classic starring Alec Guinness as a lonely farmhand equipment salesman. In the later rendition, Georgia Byrd, a humble department store sales lady has big chef dreams kept secretly inside a Possibilities scrapbook. She also nurses a huge crush on her co-worker Shawn Williams— a salesman in appliances. Georgia dissolves fully into her work; finding joy in preparing gourmet meals for the customers. Yet the belittling store manager berates her for giving out free samples. Georgia’s daily hell is the typical societal norm: take the verbal lashing, perform your duties and the duties of another due to understaffing, and most important of all— try not to sustain work related injuries. At home, Georgia cooks exceptional meals for Darius, a little boy neighbor and his grandmother— but rarely indulges. Also, her sister— a single mother— often needs Georgia to babysit. Georgia, essentially a caretaker to everyone but herself, keeps working time clock or no time clock. 

Pre-Instagram foodie culture—Georgia enjoyed recreating Emeril Lagasse cuisine with her soulful twist and taking photographs. She put them in her Possibilities scrapbook.  

While Darius eats an original Georgia Byrd creation over Coke, Georgia (wearing a track suit) has microwaved Lean Cuisine and a Diet Coke.

After a small incident at work turns into a largely unexpected health scare that HMO won’t even cover, Georgia decides to live life by her terms. A workplace that doesn’t ensure the well-being of its employees deserves no staunch loyalty. Georgia’s boss offers her as far as a pitiful dollar raise— all while listening to the company CEO Matthew Kragen dish advice to being “young, rich, and hip.” Narcissistic Matthew broadcasts his wealth on the cover of his magazines and ensures that his words will motivate others to the top. Georgia had given herself to his company for fifteen-years. She shouldn’t have to wait until society’s privileged doors opened up. No one should wait to turn possibilities into realities. But under capitalism.....

Saw this trending on Twitter and imagined Georgia’s boss writing an email this insensitive.

Before the doctor (who may or may not be a quack) gives Georgia a cat scan, he does mention that the machine came “new to them.” A used, likely faulty problem means Georgia will receive what her corrupt and cheap workplace can afford. And it will not be accurate.

A brave Shawn (LL Cool J) finally asks out Georgia (Queen Latifah) to a sports event happening weeks away. Thinking she won’t be alive then, Georgia sadly declines. 

Georgia mulls over taking the “good and faithful” path and still being punished. The truth is no matter how straight a person chooses to live (especially a Black person and a Black woman at that), the system has been designed to fail many regardless. Georgia learns this the long and hard way. You give a job most of your “good years” and the rewards are often more detrimental to the body and mind than not. Georgia’s boss did not even want to tell her that she was the reason their branch thrived. He paid her little compliment. Imagine fifteen years of that! 

After quitting her toxic job, Georgia empties her bank account and finally flies to Europe. On the problematic flight, however, she goes off— rightfully so— and switches to business class. Yes! Georgia treats herself repeatedly and it’s well earned. Obviously, she should have taken prior vacations and not allow work to become her life. She turns regrets into overdue fun and enjoyment. When she learns that her layover is delayed, she takes a helicopter and arrives early to her destination—Grandhotel Pupp Hotel in Karlovy Vary. A very tired Georgia will not wait for her room to be ready and upgrades to a suite! She is truly carefree— with her money, wardrobe, and personality! It was time. 

One of the best parts— Georgia’s montage of wearing luxury clothes that were made for her. This purple dress was a stunner. 

And that luminous smile made it everything. 

Georgia is having a ball, a real Cinderella moment. She indulges in every massage perk— even those healing spa waters— at the hotel. She’s skiing, diving off passes, and gambling— just checking her bucket list right and left. Unfortunately department store CEO Matthew is also vacationing there. Immediately, he is rattled by the attention Georgia receives from everyone including a charmed Senator George Billings and impressed Chef Didier. Heck, another sprouts out how awesome it would be if Georgia bought plates at his campaign fundraising dinners as well. He saw her as a dollar figure— not a person. Unbeknownst to Matthew, it is due to Georgia coming out of her shell, taking life by the bull horns. Matthew— accustomed to attention mainly due to his wealth and not that personality— lets his envy grow like a weed. His competitiveness does not phase Georgia at all. In fact, she is rather entertained by it. 

Also Matthew happens to be racially insensitive— as rich white people often intend to be— implying that Senator Billings must know Georgia (they are the only brown skinned people at the hotel). In a hilarious yet genuinely amazing reply Senator Billings says, “I don’t know every Black person.” Yet, when Matthew sees Senator Billings and Georgia talking and swimming together in the spa, Matthew still insists that they know each other— blindly dismissing that Senator Billings finds Georgia attractive. 

Unlike Shawn, the very smitten Senator George Billings (Giancarlo Esposito) who also lives in Georgia’s town, approached Georgia (Queen Latifiah) with the quickness. 

And Chef Didier (Gerard Depardieu) also enjoyed Georgia (Queen Latifah)— a no substitutions kind of a woman!

Matthew—who has had enough of Georgia spreading positive energy— decides to humiliate her in a toast.  

“You made us think you were somebody.” 

The kicker—Georgia is a somebody! She may not have been born rich or hung around in upper crust circles. She may not travel the world every day. Georgia, like the rest of lower middle class, poor, and other disfranchised people, is a human being worthy of compassion. Everybody should live how they want without judgement. Matthew’s “how dare you think you’re better than me” demeanor enhances his evil smirk during his backfired foolishness. Georgia owed him nothing because she never put on airs for anyone’s benefit. This scene showcases the contempt affluent people can exhibit over someone else’s happiness, over someone else’s inherent wealth. By trying to humiliate Georgia, Matthew thought everyone at the table would join in his distasteful open mockery and his disdain— his power over being a boss and her being his employee. She rightfully usurped his “mastery”completely. So what if she worked for his company in her past? Her department performed the best anyway. He does not own the world. He is not entitled to how she spends her saved money. This woman thought her life was over. 

When Georgia leaves, everyone also follows suit— leaving Matthew to his bottle of expensive champagne. 

Senator Billings shoots his shot…

But Georgia was looking for “realities not possibilities” in her choice of romance.

Last Holiday provides the proper curvy Black woman representation. Queen Latifah— thirty-four years old at the time— puts on a startling, multifaceted performance as a plain, reserved, church-going woman slowly breaking free from the chains of work. She doesn’t talk about her weight in self-hating fashion and she is no Mammy figure. Not only is she desired by several suitors, Georgia loves what she sees in the mirror. She dresses up in expensive, designer clothes and eats whatever she wants at the restaurant. Yes, she physically changes from her frumpy attire, but the most genuine element to her transformation is that smile. Georgia smiles more and that enhances a beauty that was already present. Thus, if Georgia Byrd can exist, surely other curvy Black women don’t have to become stuck in a tired trope.

Matthew tried to humiliate Georgia. He tried. Pitiful effort though. 

Georgia didn’t have to explain anything to Matthew, but her speech was beautifully said and portrayed.

With the exception of the alleged abuser, it was great to witness two phenomenal real-life hip hop MC’s falling in love; a little part squealing at the thought of LL Cool J’s Shawn rapping I Need Love to the Unity Queen Latifah’s Georgia. Plus, the excellent addition of Giancarlo Esposito as the polar opposite of Shawn— a man going after what he wanted full force. Although there were not many scenes of Georgia and Shawn in Europe together, which left a huge opening for Senator Billings to smoothly sweep in, Georgia knew who her heart wanted. Those many miles apart did not change her feelings. And what made this wickedly delicious  triangle successful—these three incredibly gifted individuals. 

A kiss on the ledge is a nice start to for two people who were too shy to speak about feelings at their former job.

Happily ever after for restauranteur Georgia and her love, Shawn. 

Last Holiday may have turned sixteen, but several parts ring true now. Georgia continuously makes light of dying and people think her to be joking. Or they’re not listening to her altogether. The woman is suffering. No one is paying real attention. Our jobs should not define who we were. We have something more to offer besides manual labor. Most importantly, paid vacations are necessary. Paid vacations can be staying home a week or traveling off to another country. Georgia Byrd shows the validity of experiencing just a piece of what Matthew types experience everyday. Also— misdiagnosis is a huge reality for the Black community. Always has been. 

For a sweet, feel good movie with humor, warmth, and inspiration, Last Holiday has the key.*

*if your job is no longer serving you, quit if you can.