Nov 10

Nov 10 Holiday in the Wild

When Kate’s marriage ends abruptly, so do her plans for a romantic second honeymoon in Zambia. But as she embarks on the trip by herself, those troubles are quickly forgotten amidst an emergency elephant rescue operation. Can a pack of pachyderms (and an alluring aviator) help Kate chart a new course in life…and love?

Holiday+in+the+Wild.jpg — Christmas clichés:

Opens w/ City Scene
Cute, Precocious Child
Charity Work
Widower
Small-Town Guy Who Works w/ Hands
Mistletoe
Evil Fiancé

Our Thoughts

There was no question we’d watch “Holiday in the Wild.” Rob adores Rob Lowe, aka Sam Seaborn, because of his vast “West Wing” knowledge. And Jess is intimately familiar with Kristin Davis, or Charlotte York, given her college obsession with “Sex and the City.” Beyond that star power, we were drawn to the movie because of our upcoming 10-year anniversary safari trip, where we’ll spend time at an elephant sanctuary (more on that later).

It was like Netflix was listening to our household conversations and didn’t serve us an ad—they made us a movie. And by golly, they did a fantastic job.

Poor Kate (Kristin Davis, warm and utterly invested): her husband left her moments after their only son left for college. She’s forced to go solo on their second-honeymoon safari, where she meets cocky bush pilot Derek (Rob Lowe, playing Indiana Jones quite well). On their flight to Kate’s luxury resort, they come across an orphaned baby elephant whose mother was killed by poachers.

If this scene discussing elephant emotion and the ways they experience trauma doesn’t make you tear up, you’re dead inside. As Derek says, “Nobody in the world needs ivory…except the elephant.”

Kate decides to forgo luxury to help out at the elephant sanctuary, where Derek also lives. Her experience as a vet makes her “Dr. Kate,” and she connects with the sanctuary workers just as much as she bonds with the elephants. A few weeks turn into a few months, which is when Christmas scenes appear…and romance starts to bloom. However, in this case the Cute, Precocious Child is a baby elephant and the Mistletoe is a thorny stick. If you can embrace this unique interpretation of Christmas clichés, you’ll fall in love the same way we did.

Can we talk about the elephants for a moment? Elephants!! Doing some post-viewing research, we learned none of the elephants in the movie were trained. Instead, they were all rescue elephants, and their playful nature brightens many scenes. On the movie’s final screen, we learn that the continent’s elephant population has plummeted 62% in the last decade. One of the outstanding organizations working to save these magnificent creatures is the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya, which we’re visiting early next year. Apparently it’s the same sanctuary that Kristin Davis champions, and her experiences helped to inspire this movie.

Again, Netflix is listening to our house.

The only obvious distraction in the film is the overuse of the reference to “Africa.” (It’s a continent, not a country.) That, plus an awkward elephant sendoff near the end, pulled us out of the experience for a few moments when we were completely entranced by the scenery and the story.

Beyond these few hiccups, the movie is perfection. (And trust us – we’re writing this after our second viewing, and it’s only November 10th). A movie that makes you feel deeply, crave connection, and have hope stands out in a sea of frivolous Christmas movie fare. If you feel the same way, consider a donation to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust or another organization that protects these incredible animals. Charity Work comes in many forms and ‘tis the season.

Rob's Final Take: Very Merry
This movie doesn’t check our boxes in the usual ways, but it’s refreshing and full of joy - and seems to have been written specially for us. It’ll be a new addition to our Christmas canon.

Jess's Final Take: Very Merry
I tried to avoid our highest rating because of the lack of snow and Santa. But Christmas is about a feeling. And this movie made me feel a lot of feels. Donate today.