Holiday Makers

After From Subway with Love, Viewegh confirms that he is not a good observer of what is going on around him and is unable to write good characters. The carious participants are just caricature characters from the textbook of Czech smallness, who are only elevated to people saying funny things through Vejdělek's skill, with which he manages to give a scene grace, wit, and lightness. But even he couldn't give the final mishmash of relationships enough sensitivity to change the end of the tour to something different than an awkward morality tale. When this talented director comes across a quality screenwriter, he’ll give the Czech film scene a serious shake-up. Not everyone is blessed with the genius of Forman or Svěrák (Sr.). 3 ½. (04/09/2007)

The theme of “small-minded Czechism" and trips to the seaside (the Czech Republic is a land-locked country) has indisputable potential, but what it turned out be is a boring TV play. Moreover, it’s stretched to feature length with a "significant" moral about how a xenophobe and a nice gay man finally found their happiness. Vejdělek's completely unimaginative and mediocre direction does nothing to help things either. Occasionally some of the actors manage to make an impression. And that's all. If that's enough for you, give it a try. (16/09/2007)

Everything and at the same time nothing. A lot of sexual pseudoproblems, relationship (mis)adventures, and unrealistic characters, from which a script acceptable for sane individuals cannot be created in a few sentences. Not even those sadly sincere moments at the end work due to terrible actors. The most shining example of all the negative aspects of popular Czech films. The second star out of favor to Viewegh - and mainly for the underclothes. (03/11/2007)

Another variation of the “Sun, Hay and Strawberries syndrome," or let's laugh at the stupidity of Czech village people. Unfortunately, it is no longer funny, it is ridiculous. For foreigners, a clear sign that they should vaccinate themselves before visiting the country. Two or three nice scenes and a few good lines don't make a quality movie. You watch YouTube, and it will be more effective. (19/09/2010)

This is a film that has never managed to win me over, and I've seen it three times already. The duo Karel&Karel is great, but the other characters have nothing going on for them, there are no good lines and Anna Polívková is terribly unlikeable as an actress. My interest in Czech comedy has been waning a lot in recent years. (03/06/2012)