The Holdovers REVIEW

By: Holden Kodish

(score at bottom)

The Holdovers is an interesting movie to be sure. From Alexander Payne, the same guy who did Downsizing, this movie stars Paul Giamatti as an ornery prep school teacher in the early ’70s, who slowly comes to care for the people around him, such as Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Dominic Sessa. Let’s just say, this movie isn’t bad. Not by a long shot. Nobody does a bad job or ruins the show. The camera work perfectly emulated the same style as those from the 1970s, and the outdoor and establishing shots invoke that look of New England winters. However, there’s nothing I would truly put as over-the-top and needing of any outstanding praise. Giamatti was good, and while I would be glad to see him win the Oscar for his performance, I wouldn’t be stunned if he was passed over again this year. Da’Vine played a Da’Vine-esque character. Very good, but I couldn’t see her outside of her great performance in People of Earth, so this may just be a “Me Problem”. Of special note is Dominic Sessa who, for a first-time teen actor, was able to carry his own amongst the other talented stars in the film. Also, Donovan Tate shows up for like 5 seconds at the end, and I only bring that up because he played Hercules in Disney’s Hercules, and I think it’s weird that he’s in anything else. That doesn’t have an impact on the review one way or another, however. Overall, while a good movie, it never hits a great movie. It’s just Dead Poet Society but with one kid instead of a class.

Pros:

The Acting and Comedy were for the most part, very good. Scenes never felt slow, or purposeless.

The Boston references are top-notch. Finally, others will know how to pronounce Worchester.

Best Episode was My Two Dads. Something about turning the bully into a friend always works for me.

Cons:

Jokes can go on a bit too long

Characters are flat and one note, which can be a problem should the show continue 

Worst Episode: While none were, in my opinion, terrible, the Halloween episode definitely checking the run time every once in a while. 

Overall Score: 7.8/10