Last Christmas
LAST CHRISTMAS - Universal Pictures
Paul Feig’s Last Christmas is yet another entry in a long line of serviceable Christmas-themed romantic comedy films that aim to please but fail to tell a coherent story. What starts as a repository of recycled “rom-com” story beats and likeable leads with decent chemistry quickly dissolves into a confused and unfocused mess of jarring tonal shifts, the nonsensical narrative turns, and disparate thematic threads.
Emilia Clarke leads the cast as Kate, a snarky, down-on-her-luck Christmas store employee with a suitcase full of emotional baggage and a traumatic past, who aspires to be a professional singer. Her life abruptly changes when she meets the charming, dashingly handsome and enigmatic Tom, played by Henry Golding, who offers a new perspective on her life and encourages her to “look up”. These two stars give everything they can in their respective roles. Clarke, in particular, carries the film in its most ludicrous moments. The Game of Thrones actress displays a terrific comedic talent and dramatic range as well as an ability to make even the most implausible character changes or tonal shifts seem somewhat believable and engaging.
Though the film brings a lot of unconventional and exciting ideas to the table, it acts on its worst impulses and ultimately becomes a story that cannot decide what it wants to be. It is, at times, a romantic comedy but also a family drama, a political commentary and a grounded sci-fi film. All of these varying genres come from Kate’s various relationships to the people in her life and all of these relationships are thinly connected by her need to be emotionally independent, be less selfish toward these people and be a more physically and mentally stable person. The problem here is that, though a throughline does exist at a character level, it springs the story into various conflicting directions at random and often inappropriate times without focusing on how these ideas flow together or connect thematically.
The comedy is broad and Paul Feig rarely manages to communicate the humour visually, although some scenes do utilize fast-cut editing or characters framed in humorous ways to supplement the comedic writing. The jokes mostly land due to the comedic talents of Clarke, Golding and Michelle Yeoh — a curious casting choice — but little of it stems organically from the plot or characters. Emma Thompson is woefully miscast and her inclusion here strives for meaningful commentary on Brexit and prejudice toward refugees, but ends up being tone-deaf and quite insensitive. Moreover, the dramatic beats only land because of Clarke and Golding, which speaks to Feig’s ineptitude at emotional sincerity in his directing style. Last Christmas is messy, incoherent and incapable of juggling its many ideas but is saved by its two extremely talented leads who give the film a beating heart and create a feel-good, yet bizarre, experience.
Last Christmas is released November 8th and 15th, respectively.
