Review of Holiday Inn (1942) by Daniel G — 15 Dec 2018

Notable for its songs, not the story.

Holiday Inn (1942) may be a classic film, but it does not hold up. It feels easily a half hour too long, moving at a snail's pace, and a racist dated blackface performance to guarantee a cringe out of you. Holiday Inn's story centered around chasing women with a man that cannot keep his women, a friend that leeches off his pal, and women that cannot make up their mind on who they love. Holiday Inn has no values. There is no Christmas cheer here. It feels like it is saying all women are cheap flakes that will not be loyal to you and every man will try to steal your lady away. Also show business is sleazy and self rewarding, which may not be far off.

The songs are pleasant enough, with some strange old timey dances thrown in, but only White Christmas is memorable. Bing Crosby was a beautiful singer and a compelling actor, while Fred Astaire was merely a great dancer for the time and seems dated compared to modern break dancing. His acting leaves much to be desired to say the least. I could not even remember either actress' name, while they both portray stereotypical Hollywood stars. There is no depth or warmth here.

Holiday Inn is hardly even a Christmas movie. It just happens to take place around the holiday season. The magic of Christmas is not here as alright dancing, nice singing for lame songs, and heinous racism in its treatment of the black characters and numbers are all tiresome.

Holiday Inn just wears out its welcome.