"If she can do it, maybe I can. She lives on the edge," muses a hotel worker about Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) in the film 'Last Holiday,' the tale of a working class girl who traipses off to spend her last days in the sprawling mountains of Europe -- literally worlds away from her native Louisiana.

You see, Georgia Byrd has that effect on people. You would think this former retail sales clerk, who travels to a five star hotel in the Czech Republic, would be a fish out of water in a chi-chi playground of the rich -- but not so. Instead of alienating people, she inspires. And living on the edge is not so hard when you think you have a few weeks left on earth.

After a nasty fall on the job, Georgia is given a routine CAT scan which indicates that she has three inoperable tumors in her brain. Though she is enamored with her co-worker Sean Matthews (LL Cool J), Georgia thinks she has bigger fish to fry -- and decides to cash in her 401(k) and in her words, "blow it" by visiting a world renown chef at an exclusive European resort.

The church scene in which Latifah comes to grips with her illness and literally steps out from the pulpit and chand asks 'Why me?' is stirring. Though played partly for comedy there is still an undercurrent of serious as a heart attack, (or an inoperable brain tumor), heartbreak, faith and redemption. With cast heavy-hitters like Gerard Depardieu, Giancarlo Esposito and a cameo by Smokey Robinson, this 1950 remake (originally starring Sir Alec Guinness) is a steep step above the average ''urban film'' schlock.

Queen Latifah reprises a role she seems most comfortable in (i.e., Khadijah James from 'Living Single' or Gina Norris in 'Beauty Shop') -- the level-headed voice of reason with a straight-shooting demeanor. Of course, there's a few back stories too, the rich jerk (Timothy Hutton) who's out to get Georgia and, of course, the love interest (Cool J), which adds a bit of spice to the slightly syrupy story arch.

'Last Holiday' uplifts in ways that are unexpected. Maybe being a black woman with working class roots makes me appreciate it in a unique way, but when Byrd literally jumps off a cliff to skydive, or treats herself to sumptuous five-course meals, or pens her last note which reads "I spent my whole life in a box, I don't want to be buried in one," I can't help but look at my life and wonder if I need to take more risks and treat myself a bit more. Goodness knows you shouldn't need death breathing down your neck to do that.