Last Christmas - Review
Director: Paul Feig
Cast: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Emma Thompson
Working as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop in Covent Garden, Kate (Clarke) is frustrated with the direction that her life has taken but is reluctant to improve her circumstance. However, when the charming, handsome and relentlessly positive Tom (Golding) enters her life, Kate slowly begins to change her ways and confront what has been holding her back.
Kate is a character with many sharp edges; she drinks too much, has countless one-night stands, abuses the kindness and generosity of her friends, shows no interest in her work performance and neglects her family, particularly her concerned (albeit overbearing) mother. However, Emilia Clarke (best known for her iconic role as Daenerys in Game of Thrones) and her winning performance never allows us to lose sight of Kate's vulnerability and the qualities that make her a heroine to root for. She is funny and affable, and her self-destructive nature and barbed personality is a result of a near-death experience that have skewed her entire outlook.
Co-scribed by Emma Thompson, responsible for the Oscar-winning adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, and directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, Spy), the behind-the-scenes talent involved in the film's production indicate that it should be a success on all fronts. Marketed as a Christmas rom-com, the film unfortunately transpires to be neither romantic or funny. A bumpy developing romance between Kate's boss Santa (Yeoh) and a besotted customer results in many cringe-inducing scenes and instances of slapstick are predictable and cliched.
The script strives to espouse many prevalent messages but its lack of focus mean that none of them resonate or have the desired effect. However, Last Christmas's primary shortcoming is framing itself as a film that is inspired by the music of George Michael. Kate professes her love for Michael at the beginning of the film, but beyond this lazy effort of exposition, the character's connection to the late musician isn't explored any further. The narrative isn't driven by Michael's discography as you would expect; instead, his songs merely act as transitions between scenes or to score montages.
Although Last Christmas has all of the vital ingredients for it to become an instant Christmas classic, it doesn't reach the dizzying heights of its potential and is, regrettably, a festive failure.
EB
Cast: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Emma Thompson
Working as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop in Covent Garden, Kate (Clarke) is frustrated with the direction that her life has taken but is reluctant to improve her circumstance. However, when the charming, handsome and relentlessly positive Tom (Golding) enters her life, Kate slowly begins to change her ways and confront what has been holding her back.
Kate is a character with many sharp edges; she drinks too much, has countless one-night stands, abuses the kindness and generosity of her friends, shows no interest in her work performance and neglects her family, particularly her concerned (albeit overbearing) mother. However, Emilia Clarke (best known for her iconic role as Daenerys in Game of Thrones) and her winning performance never allows us to lose sight of Kate's vulnerability and the qualities that make her a heroine to root for. She is funny and affable, and her self-destructive nature and barbed personality is a result of a near-death experience that have skewed her entire outlook.
Co-scribed by Emma Thompson, responsible for the Oscar-winning adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, and directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, Spy), the behind-the-scenes talent involved in the film's production indicate that it should be a success on all fronts. Marketed as a Christmas rom-com, the film unfortunately transpires to be neither romantic or funny. A bumpy developing romance between Kate's boss Santa (Yeoh) and a besotted customer results in many cringe-inducing scenes and instances of slapstick are predictable and cliched.
The script strives to espouse many prevalent messages but its lack of focus mean that none of them resonate or have the desired effect. However, Last Christmas's primary shortcoming is framing itself as a film that is inspired by the music of George Michael. Kate professes her love for Michael at the beginning of the film, but beyond this lazy effort of exposition, the character's connection to the late musician isn't explored any further. The narrative isn't driven by Michael's discography as you would expect; instead, his songs merely act as transitions between scenes or to score montages.
Although Last Christmas has all of the vital ingredients for it to become an instant Christmas classic, it doesn't reach the dizzying heights of its potential and is, regrettably, a festive failure.
EB
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