Last Christmas Movie Review
Last Christmas (2019), directed by Paul Feig, is a film that depicts the power of love in a way that will leave audiences shocked. The film’s namesake comes from the English pop duo, Wham!’s, iconic love song. The film’s throwback soundtrack is coupled with a spectacular cast of Emilia Clarke (Kate), Henry Golding (Tom), and Michelle Yeoh (Santa).
The movie tells the story of Katarina (who goes by Kate), an aspiring singer who takes up a job as an Elf in a small department store. The store’s owner goes by the penname of Santa due to its wide inventory of Christmas themed decorations. Kate eventually comes into contact with Tom, who likes to hang out by the store. Tom is instantly attracted to Kate which is portrayed in the film by his repeated attempts to take her on a date. Kate tries her hardest to resist Tom due to him “not being her type, ”but eventually says yes to him if he agrees to stop bothering her. Following the typical cliche romance theme of cinema, Kate falls head over heels for Tom and the rest of the film is fixated around their tumultuous, yet adorable relationship.
This movie has a fairly simple plot that isn’t too difficult to follow. There is, however, a big twist that is intertwined into the plot, completely disrupting the steady flow of the story. This twist fully alters the mood of this film. However, it is coupled with an ending that really brings this film full-circle.
There are plenty of creative elements that make this film unique and enticing to viewers. As mentioned before, this film features music by Wham!. There are also some songs by George Michael, who started his own solo career after the duo split up. “Too Funky” (1990), “Heal the Pain” (1990), “Praying for Time” (1990), and Fantasy (1987) are all George Michael’s songs present in the film. However, the iconic Wham! song “Last Christmas” (1984) is by far the most popular of them all and serves as the focal point of the film’s plot. What’s wonderful about this soundtrack is that you don’t have to be a George Michael fan to appreciate it. If you happen to be a George Michael fan, the presence of his songs will leave you a little more satisfied by the end of Last Christmas. Along with the music, this film also incorporates some amazing visuals. The near-constant appearance of bright colors and Christmas lights leave the audience feeling excited about the holiday season. This film even goes so far as to have a costume that is completely illuminated by Christmas lights. The beautiful visuals coupled with the great soundtrack are what make this movie perfect for the holiday season.
Last Christmas truly is a must-see movie this season that you can see at your local movie theatre. The cast of this movie immediately attracts viewers, but their skills are what make this story so great. The cast members all bring their own special thing(s) to this movie. Whether it is listening to Emilia Clarke’s (Kate) sarcastic remarks, Henry Golding’s (Tom) radiant positivity, or Michelle Yeoh’s (Santa) quirkiness and charm. All of these personalities fit together well in this film. Although the romantic parts of this film may seem a little distracting to some viewers, the dramatic element present dials some of the romance down, so it isn’t too overbearing. The heavy backstory that is covered in some of the dialogue is well masked by the aforementioned humor, which lightens up the film’s mood during these times. The presence of “Last Christmas” (the song) serves as a symbol in this film that will shock most viewers. Romance, drama, and comedy are just some of the countless elements in this film that make it the perfect film for this holiday season.
Overall, Last Christmas is a great movie with a perfect mix of drama and romance. There truly isn’t a target audience for this film, as there are components that attract all sorts of viewers. Fans of Wham!/George Michael will be interested in the soundtrack, younger viewers will appreciate the drama in this story, and people in relationships may live for the romance. This film is likely to be a hit this holiday season and is well worth your time and money.
