Adversity builds character, or so says the snide, articulate, ocularly-limited New England classics teacher Paul Hunham while trying to educate his cretinous, entitled, all-male prep students in December 1970, though their one-track minds keep them on the primrose path. With the holiday season also comes a lump of coal as the strict, unsociable educator gets stuck chaperoning his most recusant student over the winter break. Also in the company of the school's grief-stricken cafeteria manager Mary Lamb, the raspy teacher and the insubordinate pupil start to bond entre nous. Good writing and storytelling make this snappy, talky, funny and bittersweet tale an enjoyable watch, though it features a few too many endings while imparting its crucial life lessons. Giamatti is marvelous, continually spouting intellectual zingers, with stellar support from Randolph, and Sessa in an affecting big screen debut. ***
Review of The Holdovers
