I had the TV on in the background this morning, and Last Holiday was showing, starring Queen Latifah. She plays a sweet, unfulfilled New Orleans shop assistant who is diagnosed with a brain tumor and given three weeks to live. Deciding to live the rest of her life large, she sets off on a trip of a lifetime to Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic.
Oh, we all know how it’s going to play out. So it’s not exactly profound, and it’s not exactly original (it’s a remake, after all) but it is completely delightful. I mean completely. And 99% of the delight is Queen Latifah; she is magnificent, charming, warm and winning, and you buy into her transformational journey absolutely. Karlovy Vary – in particular the Grand Hotel Pupp – matches the charm with splendour.
