A light-hearted & life-affirming story of a trio of characters, each hurt & broken in their own way, who find a family in one another after they are forced to spend the winter holidays together, The Holdovers is sweet, sincere & soulfully crafted comedy-drama that's finely steered by Alexander Payne's neat direction and is all the more uplifted by impressive performances from its excellent cast. Small on scale & stakes yet big on heart & compassion, the film has the warmth & comfort of an embrace, the pain & understanding of the human soul and in Paul Giamatti's performance, a powerhouse of emotions. Navigating themes of loss, tragedy, troubled past, shattered dreams, loneliness & empathy, this wonderfully bittersweet delight is destined to be a Christmas staple in the years to come. One of the better films of 2023.
Review of The Holdovers
