A Quietly Powerful Holiday Tale: The Holdovers (2023) Is Bittersweet and Brilliant

From the trailer and, admittedly, the first 20 to 30 minutes, The Holdovers initially feels like a Christmas version of The Breakfast Club. It sets itself up with the classic setup of mismatched individuals forced to spend time together in an otherwise empty school, creating an atmosphere ripe for personality clashes, slow-burn bonding, and ultimately self-discovery. Once the film narrows its focus to just Paul, Angus, and Mary staying behind over the holidays, it truly comes alive. What begins as a seemingly light, nostalgic homage to '70s character comedies unfolds into a deeply poignant character study of three people all quietly unraveling inside.

These are individuals who, on the surface, present a facade of functionality or even stoicism, but beneath it all are carrying immense personal burdens. The film deftly peels back their layers, revealing how loneliness, loss, resentment, and regret shape their daily lives. What’s remarkable is how effortlessly the film transitions from being a sharp, biting comedy to a moving drama without ever losing its sense of tone or authenticity.

The performances are what elevate The Holdovers into something truly special. Paul Giamatti delivers one of the best performances of his career — inhabiting the role of a curmudgeonly, emotionally repressed teacher with a mix of sharp wit and heartbreaking vulnerability. He walks a tightrope between being infuriating and endearing, and it’s a masterclass in restraint. Da'Vine Joy Randolph also shines, bringing incredible emotional depth to Mary, the grieving school cook. Her performance is layered with quiet pain, maternal warmth, and simmering frustration, and she holds her own in every scene with understated power.

But perhaps the most surprising and exciting discovery is Dominic Sessa, who gives one of the most affecting breakout performances in recent memory. As Angus, he captures the raw emotional landscape of a teenager who is, at his core, deeply alone. There’s a quiet desperation in his character — a longing for connection, identity, and belonging — that Sessa communicates not just through dialogue, but through subtle facial expressions and body language. It’s rare to see a newcomer inhabit a character with such emotional intelligence, and his performance lingers long after the credits roll.

Now, with all this praise, it may sound like The Holdovers is a heavy, deeply melancholic film. And while it certainly doesn't shy away from emotional weight, the truth is that it’s also surprisingly funny — often laugh-out-loud so. The humor is dry, observational, and rooted in character, not contrived situations, which makes it all the more effective. Multiple times throughout the film, both myself and the audience found ourselves laughing heartily, which creates a balanced experience. The comedic moments don’t undercut the drama — they enrich it, making the emotional beats hit even harder.

That said, the film does carry a sense of predictability — especially in its final act. The arcs, while well-executed, are familiar. However, I would argue that this predictability is part of the film’s charm. The Holdovers is, after all, a Christmas movie at heart. And with that comes a set of expectations: warmth, redemption, togetherness, and a touch of sentimentality. In this context, the familiarity isn't a flaw — it’s a feature. It leans into the spirit of the holidays with sincerity, and by doing so, it achieves its most basic and essential function: it makes you feel. It invites you into a space where humor and pain coexist, and where, even in the coldest of seasons, there’s a flicker of human connection and hope.

Overall, The Holdovers is a fantastic film that balances rich, character-driven drama with sharp humor and deeply resonant performances. It’s a holiday film that doesn’t feel manufactured or overly sentimental, but instead earns its emotion through lived-in characters, thoughtful writing, and exceptional acting. It’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking — a film that lingers in its quiet moments, but never forgets to entertain.