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As Good As It Gets

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed to see this film getting a below average rating. Being quite a romantic man I have seen most of the Christmas romantic comedy such as 'Christmas in Boston', 'His and Her Christmas', 'Christmas do over', 'The Twelve days of Christmas Eve' etc and I am adamant that 'The Perfect Holiday' stands level with these and in some cases it's better. The story is simple and real to life and believable and the acting is excellent. Gabrielle Union is one of the best romantic comedy actresses around, probably the Afro American equivalent of Katherine Heigle. I just wish she got more starring roles, Gabrielle Union is a truly beautiful woman. I gladly give this film a seven out of ten, my only concern is what was the Queen Latifah and Terence Howard characters. Nevertheless I loved the film and I am watching it again as I write this review.

(Credit IMDb) Laughter, love and just a hint of magic make for 'The Perfect Holiday', a fun-filled comedy starring Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union, Charlie Murphy, Katt Williams, Faizon Love, Terrence Howard and Queen Latifah. All Nancy Taylor (Union) wants for Christmas is to meet a nice man. So when her little girl shares her smitten wish with a Mall Santa, Benjamin Armstrong(Chestnut), he does his best o make her dreams come true in this delightful family treat for the whole family to enjoyI've become pickier with my movie choices over the years, but I still hate being a picky critic. I've vowed to give any movie a chance to provide enjoyment for me, but Perfect Holiday just didn't cut it. The thought is certainly nice, and it's admirable, but it tried to stick it down my throat once too often, with too many unbelievable situations. The kids are annoying, especially the big brother, and I had a lot of trouble identifying myself with the characters. The ending is a bit too good to be true, but if you're a believer in this stuff, you may get a kick out of it.Performances. Morris Chestnut is OK, probably the best character here. He was somewhat likable, and seemed like an ordinary fellow. The Problem is he isn't given much depth to speak of. Gabrielle Union is certainly great to look at, and does fine with what she is given. It's just I found her character to be much too wishy-washy. Faizon Love is the comic relief, nothing more. He did OK at that. Charles Q. Murphy is annoying as Jizzy, and over did it completely. Katt Williams plays it oddly straight most of the time. While Terrance Howard and Queen Latifah have some cameo spots.Bottom line. If you want to sit down and watch an enjoyable Christmas themed movie, look elsewhere. I personally feel it will bore your kids and yourself in the process.3 ½ /10

One thing you can say about The Perfect Holiday is that it's slightly less idiotic than most of the recent crop of holiday movies. It doesn't suffer from the same juvenile slapstick bits as Deck The Halls, Surviving Christmas, or Christmas With The Kranks. Furthermore, it's nice to see people of color getting a story they can call their own, while all of those other titles (forgettable as they may be) depict Christmas as something that exists entirely in a white-bread suburban world. It's a shame that this movie isn't more original. It's filled with talented actors, but the script is at the level of a TV sitcom holiday special. Morris Chestnut and Gabrielle Union do they best they can with their cookie-cutter parts, but the audience knows from Minute One exactly where the jokes are going.

It serves it's purpose as a cute and charming Holiday film. There is romance, laughs, and Christmas magic. Morris Chestnut and Gabrielle Union have never been so likable. The kids are adorable and the oldest son is quite funny throughout the film. It's no more predictable then higher grossing "This Christmas". People wary of this film might have been expecting too much from a family film. I've seen it with a family and their were laughs and great smiles for Charlie Murphy's rapping and Morris Chestnut's courting. Terrence Howard's appearance were always quite funny his Bah Humbug character was a nice unique add to the story. The supporting actors Faizon Love and Katt Williams guarantee a laugh for anyone willing to give this film a chance. No it's not as heartwarming as "It's a Wonderful Life" or musical as "White Christmas" , but it's found it's very own niche. The movie was like a Christmas story being read. It definitely put me in the holiday spirit.