Last Christmas (2019 Film) Review
Kate, a continually unlucky woman, is leading a life that's ever so slightly falling apart. While working her job at a Christmas shop, Kate meets a man named Tom and as they get to know each other, she begins to rebuild her life.
"Last Christmas" stars Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding as Kate and Tom, respectively. Michelle Yeoh, playing Kate's boss named "Santa," and Emma Thompson, who plays Petra, Kate's mother.
"Ghostbusters" (2016) and "A Simple Favor" filmmaker Paul Feig directed "Last Christmas." He co-produced the film with Jessie Henderson, David Livingstone, and Emma Thompson. Thompson co-wrote the script with Bryony Kimmings. Universal Pictures distributed "Last Christmas."
Overall Thoughts
Although it may be categorized as a romantic comedy, the strongest moments in "Last Christmas" are actually of the dramatic kind. That's not to say it's bereft of any comedy - though the humor is hit-or-miss - but it's during those scenes when the story surprises and the actors deliver their best work in the film.
Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding are perfect as the lead characters. Their shared chemistry and opposite personalities lead to the two having engaging conversations, building up a shared romance. Clarke, playing the cynical Kate, hooks you into her character instantly and you grow to root for her as she changes her life for the better. Even when the character is trying to be distant, Clarke still retains a charming demeanor. As for Golding, following "Crazy Rich Asians," he seems to have nailed starring in romance films. Tom's the nice guy, the person who's supportive and encouraging, and Golding plays the character to a T. Seeing the two actors together puts a smile on your face and you never doubt their connection.
As a comedy, the film's humor is a mixed bag. When the jokes work, they land huge laughs. However, these occasions aren't as frequent as I expected, or at least, not as the marketing would make it seem. Instead, a good portion of the comedy is dedicated to longwinded bits where actors preform bad improv, and this happens many times throughout the film. Similar to his "Ghostbusters" remake, director Paul Feig inserts comedic bits that grind the film's momentum to a halt, interrupting the flow of the story.
The narrative is engaging, but while important to the film's message of unconditional love, the secondary storylines felt underdeveloped. Kate and her family are immigrants and there's this subplot where immigrants in the UK are facing persecution. This leads to some touching moments, but that's all that becomes of it. Her family life also needed more development. The film focuses heavily on Kate reforging her relationship with her mother, but less so with her sister and father, who each have their own set of problems that are dealt with on a surface level. I imagine strengthening these areas would've improved the film altogether.
With these aforementioned elements, it would seem that "Last Christmas" is merely okay, right? Well, it would've been had the third act not delivered the whammy - forgive the pun - it did, and I mean that as a complement. The final ten minutes unveil a surprise that's simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming. I knew a small part of this twist going into the film, but I still did not expect the writers going as far as they did with this idea. It's not the next "Sixth Sense" and it is derivative of previous romcoms - Bonnie Hunt's "Return to Me" comes to mind, which I highly recommend you watch. Nevertheless, it still had its intended effect. I was so shocked that my jaw dropped. All I will write about it is that Emma Thompson and Bryony Kimmings clearly took the titular song to heart, ensuring that you will always think of this film every time you hear the song.
Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding are perfect as the lead characters. Their shared chemistry and opposite personalities lead to the two having engaging conversations, building up a shared romance. Clarke, playing the cynical Kate, hooks you into her character instantly and you grow to root for her as she changes her life for the better. Even when the character is trying to be distant, Clarke still retains a charming demeanor. As for Golding, following "Crazy Rich Asians," he seems to have nailed starring in romance films. Tom's the nice guy, the person who's supportive and encouraging, and Golding plays the character to a T. Seeing the two actors together puts a smile on your face and you never doubt their connection.As a comedy, the film's humor is a mixed bag. When the jokes work, they land huge laughs. However, these occasions aren't as frequent as I expected, or at least, not as the marketing would make it seem. Instead, a good portion of the comedy is dedicated to longwinded bits where actors preform bad improv, and this happens many times throughout the film. Similar to his "Ghostbusters" remake, director Paul Feig inserts comedic bits that grind the film's momentum to a halt, interrupting the flow of the story.
The narrative is engaging, but while important to the film's message of unconditional love, the secondary storylines felt underdeveloped. Kate and her family are immigrants and there's this subplot where immigrants in the UK are facing persecution. This leads to some touching moments, but that's all that becomes of it. Her family life also needed more development. The film focuses heavily on Kate reforging her relationship with her mother, but less so with her sister and father, who each have their own set of problems that are dealt with on a surface level. I imagine strengthening these areas would've improved the film altogether.
With these aforementioned elements, it would seem that "Last Christmas" is merely okay, right? Well, it would've been had the third act not delivered the whammy - forgive the pun - it did, and I mean that as a complement. The final ten minutes unveil a surprise that's simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming. I knew a small part of this twist going into the film, but I still did not expect the writers going as far as they did with this idea. It's not the next "Sixth Sense" and it is derivative of previous romcoms - Bonnie Hunt's "Return to Me" comes to mind, which I highly recommend you watch. Nevertheless, it still had its intended effect. I was so shocked that my jaw dropped. All I will write about it is that Emma Thompson and Bryony Kimmings clearly took the titular song to heart, ensuring that you will always think of this film every time you hear the song.
Rating: ★★★
Conclusion
A so-so comedy, but a wholesome holiday and romance film, "Last Christmas" is delightful, surprising, and will likely become required viewing every Christmas season. While this isn't a must-see, if you're looking to see something at your local cinema, this is a good choice. Given all the films still to come between now and then, I don't think you should wait till Christmastime to see the film. If you want to see this, go as soon as you can.
This has been my review of “Last Christmas." I hope you enjoyed it. Have you seen the film? If you have, share your thoughts in the comments below. Should you feel inclined, feel free to recommend a film for me to review next. Thank you for reading, I'm Dallin, your resident film fanatic, and I'll return soon with another review.
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