Last Holiday

For a film about a man told he’s dying, The Last Holiday is lighter on its feet than you’d expect, though not quite the gem it wants to be. Alec Guinness is quietly amusing, turning meekness into dry wit as he splurges on fine clothes and unnerves hotel snobs with his calm detachment. The supporting cast play their roles with broad strokes, and there are some sharp satirical touches, but the humour never quite builds to more than a series of gentle jabs. The premise promises profundity, yet the impact is closer to a wry shrug: pleasant, mildly thought-provoking, but hardly unforgettable.