LAST CHRISTMAS: A Merry Little Misfire

Paul Feig‘s Last Christmas isn’t a good romance movie, comedy, or Christmas movie. It is, however, a solid tribute to the music of George Michael. The film is brimming with the late singer’s hits, including the previously unreleased song “This Is How (We Want You to Get High).” But, except for the title, story, and a protagonist who’s admittedly a huge George Michael fan, there isn’t enough to connect him to this movie. If anything, the excessive use of his music often feels forced and out of place.

When the trailer for the film was released back in August, it didn’t take long for the Twittersphere to pick it apart and try to guess the plot twist. Whether or not those guesses turned out to be correct doesn’t even matter, because the movie spoils itself in the very first act thanks to its blatant foreshadowing.

Emilia Clarke Is A Gift

Emilia Clarke stars as Kate, a young woman whose life is plagued by poor decisions and misfortunes. She’s an aspiring singer but keeps bombing all of her recent auditions. Kate works as an elf in a Christmas shop run by “Santa” (Michelle Yeoh). There, she meets Tom (Henry Golding), who helps her turn her life around.

Clarke‘s charismatic performance makes Last Christmas watchable and even mildly enjoyable. She manages to make an unlikeable character likable. A selfish screwup like Kate could have easily been annoying, but Clarke is charming enough to make her character sympathetic and endearing. Nonetheless, an irresistible lead performance isn’t enough to salvage this movie.

A Ho, Ho, Ho-Hum Script

Emma Thompson, who also plays Kate’s mother in the film, developed the story for Last Christmas with her husband Greg Wise. She also penned the screenplay alongside Bryony Kimmings. Sadly, the script is what ultimately drags the film down. For a rom-com, it fails to deliver on laughs. Almost every joke falls flat, resulting in too many bland moments.

The plot had the potential to be unique and unexpected, but the movie shows its hand way too early. As soon as Tom and Kate begin spending time together, Last Christmas becomes painfully predictable. As easy as it is to figure out the twist within the first 10 minutes, the big reveal is surprisingly impactful. If the buildup had been more nuanced, then perhaps the movie wouldn’t have been a complete misfire.

The heavy-handed dialogue doesn’t do the movie any favors. It’s as though the Thompson and Kimmings tried too hard to tie the movie back to Wham!‘s “Last Christmas.” At one point, Kate discloses that she had a heart transplant and she discusses how they took her heart and “threw it away.” This should have been one of the most poignant scenes, but its bogged down by on-the-nose dialogue and glaring nods to George Michael‘s lyrics.

Despite its flaws, Last Christmas still boasts a splendid message about how true happiness comes from helping others. However, the movie might be a bit too saccharine for most viewers. Ultimately, it squanders its potential and fails to become anything more than a glorified Hallmark Christmas movie.

Last Christmas: Conclusion

With the talent both behind the camera and in front of it, one would expect more from Last Christmas. But all that talent couldn’t save such a clunky screenplay. The movie pulls off the bizarre feat of being both predictable and ridiculous at the same time. Emilia Clarke shines in this otherwise mediocre Christmas rom-com, and she’s the one thing preventing this movie from being completely unbearable.

What did you think of Last Christmas? Did you love or hate the twist? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Last Christmas was released in the U.S. on November 8, 2019, and will be released in the U.K. on November 15, 2019.