Holiday in the Wild (2019)

Holiday in the Wild is the kind of gentle, sunlit romantic comedy that knows its greatest special effect is a change of scenery—and Zambia’s wide-open skies and warm, golden landscapes do a lot of the storytelling. Kristin Davis gives Kate an inviting mix of hurt, humor, and quiet resolve, and the movie lets her heartbreak open into something unexpectedly hopeful as an elephant sanctuary and a charming pilot (a perfectly at-ease Rob Lowe) nudge her back toward purpose. The vibe is breezy and festive without turning syrupy, with just enough holiday glow to feel comforting and escapist. It won’t satisfy you if you’re craving sharp-edged comedy or big twists, but if you want a likable, easygoing watch with heart, travel-daydream energy, and a sweet second-chance spirit, it delivers.

Holiday in the Wild is clearly aiming to be a cozy, low-stress “start over” romance with a big heart, pretty African scenery, and an easy-to-root-for mission involving elephant rescue. The problem is it plays like a checklist of familiar beats—meet-cute, healing montage, Christmas glow—so if you’re allergic to predictable, syrupy storytelling, this will feel cheesy rather than charming. It’s also more of a gentle wish-fulfillment postcard than a nuanced drama, with emotions kept safe and tidy even when the premise has sharper edges. That said, Kristin Davis is likable, Rob Lowe coasts on charisma, and the sanctuary setting is genuinely soothing, so it works best if you want something harmless, sentimental, and very undemanding.