Christmas-themed movies need not always be about niceties, fun and romance. The Holdovers (2023) shows you can take a Christmas film that covers the serious subject of teacher and student relationships and still be entertaining. This is a comedy-drama that happens in a prestigious boarding school in New England in the winter of 1970. A brilliant screenplay, realistic recreation of the period and fine acting make this an unforgettable film – it gets a Ripe from mangoidiots.
The week before Christmas, Paul Hunham, a strict and uncompromising teacher of Barton Academy is tasked with babysitting a bunch of students till the new year, when everyone else in the school goes on vacation to celebrate with their families. Soon, Mr Hunham, the chief cook Mary and only one student Angus Tully are left – over two weeks a strong bond of friendship and understanding develops between the three. This simple plot was explored successfully in the screenplay. I enjoyed the film thoroughly.
Dominic Sessa as Angus Tully, Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb
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