TIFF 2023: The Holdovers Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

They don’t make them like this anymore and that’s what makes The Holdovers stand out even more. A throwback to those classic VHS coming-of-age dramedies, there’s a comforting factor to it that is hard to ignore. From its look to its story, the film is an endearing, wholesome, and often hilarious watch. While it is simple, it overcomes that thanks to some strong writing and superb performances from Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa. In his first film role, the latter is an absolute revelation. In the end, it is the dynamic between the aforementioned three carry a story about three very different characters forming an unlikely bond through difficult circumstances. Across two snowy New England weeks, they embark on a series of wild adventures where they discover (or rediscover) themselves as they move forward in their lives. Expect plenty of antics and emotion as they go about their journeys where layers are soon peeled off the characters. While it may not necessarily be treading any new ground, one can’t help but just feel good watching.

The Holdovers follows, Paul Hunham (Giamatti), an unlikeable teacher in the eyes of the students and the faculty of an all boys boarding school for the privileged. His abrasive personality tended to rub people the wrong so it should come as no surprise as he drew the short end of the stick when tasked to supervise a group of students unable to journey home for the upcoming Christmas holiday. As his group of students was slowly whittled down, the strict and incredibly regimented teacher was eventually left with 15-year-old Angus Tully (Sessa). Joined by Mary Lamb (Randolph), the school chef who recently lost her son, and former student, in the Vietnam war. Over time, seeing the three open up (or soften up) was a blast as the film dove deeper than what was there on the surface and their dynamic evolved as they evolved as characters. As Mary dealt with her grief, Hunham and Tully found a way to bring the best out of each other as they developed a sort of father-son relationship. Their time together was barred with a rollercoaster of moments but ultimately, their experience proved to be a mutual learning lesson.

Aside from the writing and the score, the best part of The Holdovers is its superb performances from Giamatti, Randolph, and Sessa as Hunham, Lamb, and Tully. While all funny and charming in their own right, the film is a testament to their collective range. Giamatti is a force as the misunderstood teacher, bringing layers of pain below the surface of his gruff exterior before letting it all come to the surface in a compelling way. Randolph does much of the same and also stole scenes with her proven comedic timing and delivery. However, Sessa is an absolute revelation. Standing toe-to-toe with his co-stars and holding his own against them, his charisma and likability worked wonders here and is sure to take him to greater lengths in the near future.

At the end of the day, The Holdovers is a feel-good throwback much in the vein of the classics from yesteryear that hits all the right notes.   

*still courtesy of Focus Features*

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.