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(About Our Ads) "THE PERFECT HOLIDAY" (2007) (Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union) (PG) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Minor Moderate Minor *None Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None Minor Mild Mild Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate None Moderate Moderate Mild QUICK TAKE: Romantic Comedy: A department store Santa tries to fulfill a young girl's wish by being the nice man she wants her harried and divorced mom to meet. PLOT: Benjamin Armstrong (MORRIS CHESTNUT) is an aspiring songwriter who writes love songs but has yet to find true romance for himself. To pay the bills, he works as a department store Santa, along with his friend Jamal (FAIZON LOVE) who plays his adult-sized, elf assistant. One day, young Emily Taylor (KHAIL BYRANT) sits on Santa's lap and rather than ask for toys for herself, she asks for a nice man to meet her divorced and harried mom, Nancy (GABRIELLE UNION). Since she's an attractive woman and he's single, Benjamin figures he could be that nice guy. Nancy's friends, Robin (JILL MARIE JONES) and Brenda (RACHEL TRUE), certainly think he's quite the catch, but she has her hands full. That's not only from doing her best to raise Emily and her brothers, Mikey (JEREMY GUMBS) and John-John (MALIK HAMMOND), but also dealing with their deadbeat father, J-Jizzy (CHARLES MURPHY), who just so happens to be a successful singer. The latter needs a hit, however, and thus his manager, Delicious (KATT WILLIAMS), is looking for a new song, and thinks he's found one via Benjamin. Yet, he and J-Jizzy don't realize their connection through Nancy who's likewise in the dark since Benjamin's told white lies about his true vocation. As the film's narrator (QUEEN LATIFAH) and her nemesis, Bah-Humbug (TERRENCE HOWARD), try to influence things, Nancy and Benjamin begin to believe that they've found true love, unaware of the comedic complications and revelations that lie in wait for them. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Those who are fans of someone in the cast, holiday movies, or that might be drawn in by the kid characters might be interested in it. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG For brief language and some suggestive humor. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: MORRIS CHESTNUT plays an aspiring songwriter who makes ends meet by appearing as a department store Santa. With a tip from Emily (who's unaware of who he really is), Benjamin puts the moves on the girl's mom, yet is still awkward around her. That includes lying about his real job, and then worrying when John-John seems intent on stymieing the budding romance. GABRIELLE UNION plays a harried divorcée who's trying to raise 3 kids, deal with their deadbeat dad, and hopes to find the perfect man. She thinks she's done so with Benjamin, and thus tries to make him happy, all while falling for his lie about who he is. MALIK HAMMOND plays her son who tries to halt their romance (and thus shows disrespect toward Benjamin), all in hopes of his parents getting back together again. KHAIL BYRANT plays his younger sister who tells Santa that her Christmas wish is a nice man for her mother. JEREMY GUMBS plays their brother. FAIZON LOVE plays Benjamin's somewhat rowdy friend who works as his adult-sized elf assistant at the department store. It's implied he has Brenda spend the night with him (and he lies to her about his real job). CHARLES MURPHY plays Nancy's ex, a successful singer but a deadbeat dad toward their kids (and he only wants custody of them over Christmas so that he can use them as props in his latest promotion). KATT WILLIAMS plays his manager who tries to keep him successful. QUEEN LATIFAH plays the film's narrator, something of the good angel out to make sure the romance continues. TERRENCE HOWARD plays her dour counterpart who wants to break it up. JILL MARIE JONES and RACHEL TRUE play Nancy's friends who help her find Benjamin, with the latter's character getting involved with Jamal (and she stays at his place overnight). CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this PG-rated romantic comedy. Profanity consists of a muffled "s" word, while a handful of other expletives and various colorful phrases are uttered. Sexually related dialogue is present, and a song has a sexually related lyric. There's a suggested overnight stay for a woman at a man's place, some brief kissing occurs, and varying amounts of cleavage are seen, while some suggestively dressed women appear in a music video. There's some light and/or comedy based contact between characters, and various ones have varying degrees of bad attitudes, with some of that involving divorced parents fighting over their kids. Some alcohol is present, as is a little verbal-based crude humor. One scene at the end of the film (consisting of slight peril) might be unsettling to the youngest of kids, while other behavior might be enticing for some kids to try to imitate. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Benjamin and Nancy have wine in a restaurant as do others around them. Nancy brings out a bottle of wine and places it on the table. BLOOD/GORE It sounded like a title of a song was "I got doody on my shoe." As Benjamin ducks into the bathroom to prevent John-John from seeing him, Delicious isn't aware of what is going on, and says that he guesses diarrhea can hit you at any time. Acting like a kid, Bah-Humbug says what sounded like "I made a dooky." The Narrator then slaps him to the ground. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE We see "Bewitched" style cartoon segments in the opening credits where a cartoon version of Bah-Humbug does all sorts of bad and mischievous things to the cartoon version of the Narrator (played for comedy). We hear that Nancy's husband (J-Jizzy) left her and their three kids to pursue his music, and she is still bitter about this. A kid calls Santa "fat boy." Emily tells Santa that her mom just wants some guy who will compliment her. Using that knowledge, Benjamin (who was dressed as Santa when the girl said that) makes his move on Nancy. Benjamin tells a white lie to Nancy that he is an office supply salesman, and that lie continues and builds throughout the film. Wanting his father to come back to the family, John-John has a bad attitude toward Benjamin and doesn't want to meet him. When he does, he asks his mother if that's the best she can do, and then repeatedly tries to stymie the budding romance. Jamal lies to Brenda about being a bounty hunter and then keeps up that ruse. When Nancy says she will see J-Jizzy in court (about who will have custody of their kids over Christmas), he says that the judge will see that she gained weight. A miscellaneous thug tries to steal a miscellaneous older woman's purse, with Jamal literally leaping into action as he jumps on the man to stop him (though we don't see the impact). We see that J-Jizzy only wanted his kids for Christmas so that he could use them as promotional accompaniment for his latest release. When John-John pleads to get into a closed store to see Santa, Bah-Humbug says that Santa died. FRIGHTENING SCENES Mikey gets into a miniature car and drives around a mansion, but ends up flying out of the car and lands at the top of a very tall Christmas tree. He holds on there as Benjamin tries to reach out and grab his hand while holding onto a nearby balcony railing. The boy is just out of reach, but thanks to the Narrator's magical help, Benjamin grabs and rescues the boy. Benjamin then ends up falling from the balcony but lands in some padding and is okay. GUNS/WEAPONS None, but Delicious mentions a song title being "I saw momma capping (shooting) Santa Claus." IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Hook up," "Get busy," "Nasty, booty shaking scene," "I love ho-ho-hos," "Your momma's chopping it down right now" (said about Nancy kissing Benjamin), "Shut up," "Player," "Fat boy," "Was the momma fine?" "Stupid," "That's not a dress, that's bait," "Dawg," "Chicks," "Snot-nosed," "Crazy lady lattes," "Sitting here like ninnies," "Chocolate love," "You sweatin' me again?" "Punk," "Lieutenant lost-his-mind," "You are whack," "I made a dooky," "Sucks," "Parade them around like a damn circus act," "Chump" and "You fat jerk." Delicious fake sneezes out the word "bullsh*t" so that it's nearly indistinguishable. John-John slaps his brother on his head. Jamal has a tattoo on his arm. John-John copies various dance moves that he sees his father doing on TV. J-Jizzy has some tattoos. Trying to drive Benjamin away, John-John puts glue in his bowling ball, but we then see that Benjamin used a glove and that's the only thing stuck in the ball. We then see John-John and Mikey spreading peanut butter on Benjamin's seat, but when he goes out to the car, he takes a slice of bread and wipes it on that seat (rather than sit down on the peanut butter). John-John then places a bucket over the front door, but rather then the goo inside it falling on Benjamin, it lands on John-John's head. Trying to avoid Nancy and her family from seeing him in J-Jizzy's studio, Benjamin purposely upsets the fruit tray that Delicious is carrying. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A tiny bit of suspenseful music plays in one scene. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) The song "Let's Get It On" has that sexually suggestive lyric in it. PROFANITY At least 1 "s" word (coughed out and used with "bull"), 2 slang term related to sex ("hook up" and "get busy"), 1 damn, 2 uses each of "Oh God" and "Oh my God" and 1 use of "Swear to God." SEX/NUDITY Nancy shows some cleavage. Nancy says that she wants a man who will not try to "hook up" or "get busy with me." We see some suggestively dressed women in J. Jizzy's music video. They show some cleavage, and Delicious comments on the "nasty booty shaking scene." When the kids ask J-Jizzy if he'd like to stay for dessert, he says that his desert is out in the car (presumably referring to a woman). Nancy show some cleavage, and when she shows up in a sexy dress, her friend says that isn't a dress, but instead is bait. Nancy's friend shows a little bit of cleavage. Flustered by Benjamin, Nancy says, "I'm sure I'll need whatever you have... in office supplies." Delicious mentions a song title being "I love ho-ho-hos." Nancy shows a little cleavage. Nancy shows a lot of cleavage. The song "Let's Get It On" has that sexually suggestive lyric in it. Nancy kisses Benjamin after saying that she has sent the kids over to Brenda's (thus meaning she and Benjamin are alone). Nothing else happens, however, as Benjamin is worried about John-John not liking him. We infer that Jamal has Brenda at his place overnight when Benjamin stops by. We see Jamal's bare belly as he tries to put on a Santa suit. Nancy's other friend shows some cleavage. Seeing Nancy passionately kissing Benjamin, one of Nancy's friends tells one of her kids, "Your momma's chopping it down right now" (after the kid asked about the Christmas tree). SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear that Nancy's husband (J-Jizzy) left her and their three kids to pursue his music, and she is still bitter about this. Nancy's three kids look disappointed after waiting for their father who doesn't show up. Wanting his father to come back to the family, John-John has a bad attitude toward Benjamin and doesn't want to meet him. When he does, he asks his mother if that's the best she can do. When Nancy says she will see J-Jizzy in court (about who will have custody of their kids over Christmas), he says that the judge will see that she gained weight. Nancy is upset when she gets news that a judge ruled that her ex-husband will get custody of their kids over Christmas. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Having divorced and/or bickering parents. We hear that Nancy's husband (J-Jizzy) left her and their three kids to pursue his music, and she is still bitter about this. Nancy is so busy raising her three kids that she has nothing left for her. The notion of love at first sight. How white lies can build and get out of control. The spirit of Christmas, and that all young Emily wants is for her mom to meet a nice man. VIOLENCE All of the following is played lightly and/or for comedy. We see "Bewitched" style cartoon segments in the opening credits where a cartoon version of Bah-Humbug does all sorts of bad and mischievous things to the cartoon version of the Narrator. That includes cutting a line in making her fall (we don't see the impact), cutting ice from below her and making her fall, using a mallet to smash a package, a flamethrower to melt a snow man, and a chainsaw to cut down a tree. He is then shocked while trying to cut her Christmas lights. John-John slaps his brother on his head. J-Jizzy's bodyguard pushes Benjamin aside. We see a montage of kids jumping all over Jamal and he later talks about one who hit him. A miscellaneous thug tries to steal a miscellaneous older woman's purse, with Jamal literally leaping into action as he jumps on the man to stop him (though we don't see the impact). Acting like a kid, Bah-Humbug says what sounded like "I made a dooky." The Narrator then slaps him to the ground. Bah-Humbug throws a snowball that hits Benjamin in the face. Reviewed November 7, 2007 / Posted December 12, 2007