With the holiday season now behind us, the weeks set aside for watching movies centered around the most wonderful time of the year have come to an end. Films likeNational Lampoon’s Christmas VacationandA Christmas Storyare certainly only meant for the days leading up to – and perhaps directly following – December 25, but there are other holiday titles that we’d argue could be watched year-round. One of those movies will graduate to a new streaming home next month, asAlexander Payne’sThe Holdoverslands on Peacock on February 28.
Featuring an impressive trio of co-leading performances fromPaul Giamatti,Dominic Sessa, andDa’Vine Joy Randolph, the movie isn’t just about the joy of Christmas, but is also a coming-of-age tale for each of its main characters. With plenty of critical acclaim –including a few Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA wins –The Holdoversis an absolute must-watch, but just be sure you have a box of tissues handy.
What Is ‘The Holdovers’ About?
The Holdoversimmediately transports audiences to the 1970s, with Payne sparing no expense at giving the moviethe full vibe of the decade. What we mean by this is that you not only see things as they were then, but also fully feel like you’re watching a movie that came out 50 years ago. The film centers around Giamatti’sPaul Hunham, a classics teacherat a prestigious boarding school called Barton Academy. Hunham is one of the least-liked educators at the school by both peers and pupils, so he certainly isn’t shocked when he draws the short straw and ends up stuck playing babysitter for the students who won’t be going home for the holidays.
This group – known as the holdovers – includes a young man named Angus Tully (Sessa) who has been left behind by his mother and her new husband as they go on a honeymoon. After the rest of the holdover kids receive permission from their guardians to go on a skiing trip, it’s just Angus and Mr. Hunham left, with cafeteria worker, Mary Lamb (Randolph), also sticking around for the holidays. Even though no one wants to be there andthe disdain between Angus and Mr. Hunhamis palpable, the triochange one another’s lives for the betterby the time classes pick up in the New Year.
With the near-perfectRotten Tomatoesscore of 97%,The Holdoversis certainly worth the watch when it arrives on Peacock on February 28 – even if ittechnicallyis a holiday film.
The Holdovers
