Last Christmas
Starring: Emilia Clarke, Henry Goulding, Michelle Yeoh, and Emma Thompson
Directed by: Paul Feig
Rated: PG-13
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. The glow of the decorations can make even the most dreary places beam with excitement. The music is joyful and nostalgic. Plus, every day is filled with holiday cheer. Even though the promise of Christmas is right around the corner, Kate (Emilia Clarke) is stuck in a rut. Ever since a traumatic illness, one year prior, she can’t seem to get her life together. She works at a local Christmas store as a holiday elf. Kate recently moved out of her parent’s house, leaving her to couch surf at friend’s houses. Did I mention that her dreams of becoming a singer aren’t going anywhere? Kate leaves a trail of chaos wherever she goes and has a particularly difficult time making the right decisions. One day, a mysterious and handsome man named Tom (Henry Golding) shows up to her store. After an awkward first encounter, the two keep bumping into each other on the same night. Tom is the opposite of Kate and always tries to see the best in every situation. Can he help her find a little joy this holiday season?
Heres the deal, I love Christmas movies. Not just Hallmark and Lifetime made-for-TV Christmas movies, but theatrical, holly jolly, Christmas entertainment. The odds of me enjoying Last Christmas were pretty high…and enjoy it, I did. What surprised me is that the film is quite a bit deeper than the previews let on, dealing with themes detailing the complexities of familial relationships and personal healing.
Directed by Paul Feig, Last Christmas is decked out in Christmas spirit from start to finish. Every moment shimmers with a Yuletide glow. Almost every scene is set to the music of George Michael (of course, his tune, Last Christmas comes into play big time) in a way that fits the film wonderfully. His music fits Kate’s journey, and that of the character’s around her. When music is a significant factor in a film, it needs to be enjoyable and fit the scenes, thankfully George Michael’s tunes do both here splendidly.
Emma Thompson and Bryony Kimmings wrote the screenplay of the film. Together, the two crafted a script that juggles wit and drama. The film isn’t afraid to get into some deep subject matters dealing with Kate’s health crisis and estrangement from her family. I appreciate that Last Christmas can depict a female character who doesn’t have it all together. Kate is selfish and messy. She is struggling in life and needs some help after dealing with personal trauma. The truth is life doesn’t instantly get better after dealing with a health crisis. You have to take some time to heal emotionally and pick up the pieces along the way.
Part of what makes Last Christmas work is the fantastic chemistry between Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding. The two shine as though they were destined to star in a rom-com together. Even in her character’s worst moments, you still feel for Clarke because she’s such a charismatic actress. Don’t get me started on Henry Golding. That man needs to be James Bond. I’ve been campaigning on this website for that to happen since Crazy Rich Asians, and I’ll continue to do so until he gets the role. He has the perfect leading man presence that engages the audience with the character. Tom is such a genuinely kind and warm character, always encouraging Kate to do the right thing at every turn.
Emila Clarke and Henry Golding in Last Christmas (Photo belongs to Universal Pictures)
Emma Thompson is a hilarious standout in the film as Kate’s mother, Petra, an anxiety-ridden Yugoslavian woman who just wants what’s best for her daughters, even if she pushes a little too much.
Michelle Yeoh also shines as “Santa,” the holiday store owner, and Kate’s boss. Her appearance in the film marks a little Crazy Rich Asians reunion since she played Henry Golding’s mother in that film. Sadly, they don’t share any scenes together in Last Christmas. However, she does help Kate get back on her feet after a series of missteps.
Audiences will undoubtedly be split when a plot twist happens in the film’s third act. The movie’s flaw is that it can be a bit too predictable. I saw the twist coming because there are plenty of clues helping the audience guess. It’s a make or break moment for enjoying the movie. I liked the twist because it added an intriguing layer to the script and gave me something more to think about in terms of the usual holiday rom-com. However, I can see how some audiences would get frustrated by the twist. It’s all a matter of personal opinion.
This isn’t a perfect movie and certainly has its share of predictable moments, but I’ll definitely be watching it again this holiday season. If you love Christmas movies like me, you need to check out Last Christmas. There’s plenty of holiday spirit supported by some great George Michael music and an intriguing storyline that takes a turn from your typical rom-com fare. Soak up every moment of this holiday season and check out Last Christmas!
My Rating: 7/10