The Holdovers follows a curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually he forms an unlikely bond with one of them — a damaged, brainy troublemaker — and with the school’s head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam. A film by Alexander Payne, starring Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Carrie Preston, Brady Hepner, Ian Dolley, Jim Kaplan, Michael Provost, Andrew Garman, Naheem Garcia, Stephen Thorne, Gillian Vigman, and Tate Donovan.

As the festive spirit of December 1970 sweeps across the land, Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), a classics teacher at Barton Academy, a renowned boarding school in New England, receives an unexpected assignment from Dr. Hardy Woodrup (Andrew Garman), the school’s headmaster. Due to an unforeseen emergency, Paul finds himself entrusted with the care of four students who would be spending the two-week winter break at the school.

Dr. Hardy, aware of Paul’s reputation for strict discipline, gently advised him to relax his standards during the holidays, asserting that being away from family during this special time can be quite challenging for them. Dr. Hardy also reminds Paul of the incident in which Paul failed the son of Senator Osgood, one of the biggest donors, which made him very upset.

As students and faculty depart Barton for the holidays, Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) waits expectantly for his mother to pick him up. However, his mother Judy (Gillian Vigman) calls with unexpected news: she has decided to spontaneously go on a honeymoon with his new stepfather Stanley Clotfelter (Tate Donovan), leaving Angus stranded at school. Angus desperately pleads with his mother to reconsider, but she remains adamant.

Amidst the winter break, affluent father of Jason Smith (Michael Provost) descends upon Barton in a helicopter, extending an invitation to the remaining holdovers including, Teddy Kountze (Brady Hepner), Alex Ollerman (Ian Dolley), Ye-Joon Park (Jim Kaplan), and Angus, on his family ski trip. Paul successfully obtains parental consent for all but Angus, whose parents remain frustratingly unreachable.

With no other options, Angus is left behind at Barton accompanied by Paul and Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), the cafeteria administrator grappling with the recent loss of her only son in the Vietnam War.

The Holdovers is an amazing comedy-drama that stands out as one of the most compelling films of 2023. The exceptional performances by Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and newcomer Dominic Sessa breathe life into their characters, creating an undeniable chemistry that resonates throughout the film. Their performances are so captivating that they deserve to be recognized with Academy Award nominations. Paul Giamatti delivers yet another exceptional performance, showcasing his comedic brilliance with infectious exuberance.

Although her character’s grief limits her comedic opportunities, Da’Vine Joy Randolph delivers her punchlines with impeccable timing and precision. David Hemingson’s remarkable script masterfully navigates the emotional spectrum, seamlessly transitioning from extremely hilarious moments to poignant reflections on life’s complexities. Dominic Sessa emerges as a rising star to watch, captivating audiences with his natural talent and undeniable charisma. This film is, by far, my most favorite Alexander Payne film.

The Holdovers premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on 31 August 2023. The film was theatrically released in the United States on 27 October.

The Holdovers was set for theatrical release in the United Kingdom on 19 January 2024.