Last Christmas

Last Christmas

Starring Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Emma Thompson

Directed by Paul Feig

The song "Last Christmas" has been a Christmas staple since the 80s, and has been done by several famous artists throughout the years.  Written by George Michael, it was originally brought to fame by the band Wham!, and much like the beloved classic Christmas carols of old, you'll hear this song again and again in the shopping malls and stores in the coming weeks - and the title itself is given to this Christmas-style rom-com written by Emma Thompson.  While the film does have its unique charms, it's missing some important aspects, provides a non-sensical twist, and is only slightly better than a Hallmark Channel original.

The film follows Kate (Emilia Clarke), who underwent heart surgery last year, but now lives a bitter, ungrateful life as she selfishly uses her friends for free room and board and barely works at an all-year Christmas store run by "Santa" (Michelle Yeoh).  She doesn't seem to care about anyone but herself, until she meets mysterious Tom (Henry Golding), who shows her a different side to life - a world filled with happiness and selflessness, and to find the joys in life by looking up.  She uses this newfound mantra to change her life for the better, even reuniting with her estranged mother Petra (Emma Thompson) and volunteering at a local homeless shelter.

Emilia Clarke showcases her singing talents as she belts out the tunes of George Michael (who ironically passed away on Christmas day) and plays a character far removed from her powerful Queen of Dragons character on "Game of Thrones," and she's one of the small beacons of light in this film.  She's selfish, but also self-defecating and humorous, a bitter girl who shouldn't be bitter due to her second lease on life, but still is.  Watching her transform is the joy the film provides, along with the timeless message of doing good for others, which is an important message in itself and gives a joyous, happy ending you'd expect from a Christmas film like this.

Equally, Henry Golding emulates sophistication and effortless charm as the mysterious Tom, who is continually upbeat and positive, who volunteers at the local homeless shelter, and has a carefree attitude about life.  Since his eruption on the big screen in last year's "Crazy Rich Asians," Golding has continually found success in films like "A Simple Favor," and the upcoming Guy Ritchie-directed film "The Gentleman," and here he gives another fantastic performance, even if you don't fully buy into the chemistry between Tom and Kate.

Supporting cast members Michelle Yeoh and Emma Thompson (who also co-wrote the script) offer bland, somewhat humorous caricatures of their respective native lands, as Yeoh commands the screen as the gruff, no-nonsense boss while Thompson carries a Croatian accent as Kate's immigrant mother who's overbearing, unemotional, and doesn't understand the modern day ways of life.  Although both give some laughs, they're so removed from anything that could be described as memorable for any of the right reasons.

 The story itself - which is shocking since it came from the talented mind of Emma Thompson, who is the only actress to win an Oscar in both acting and writing (for writing "Sense and Sensibility") - should've been more straight-laced, but instead decided to deviate from the norms and take a drastic turn in its third act which pretty much makes everything that happened before a moot point.  Anyone who's seen the trailer could guess what'll happen, as it's not very subtle, but the film makes it seem like it's some shocking reveal and thinks it's smarter than what it actually is.  When it comes to the directing, Paul Feig (who's best known for films like "Bridesmaids") seems to phone it in by providing another generic Christmas film that's only slightly above a Hallmark Channel original due to the performances alone.

The set designs are fine enough, as they transform London into a wonderful Christmas land filled with colorful lights and decorations, and the store Kate works in is definitely festive - it looks like Christmas just threw up in there.  The music is also fine as well, playing some of George Michael's biggest hits - along with one previously unreleased track - but ultimately you can just get the soundtrack and have the same effect.  Emilia Clarke deserves some bonus points for providing her own singing voice, and she actually has a natural talent for it - unfortunately it was pretty much wasted here.

Ultimately, the message the film portrays is that you'll find true happiness in helping others, something that Kate understands by the end of it - this isn't a spoiler, it's the typical progression of any film of this ilk.  It's a fine message that provides the film's final moments with sheer joy that will swell in your heart and prepare you for the influx of yuletide cheer, and you won't really mind it.  This modern-day "It's a Wonderful Life" mixed with "A Christmas Carol" won't be remembered months from now, but it's still a suitable Christmas film that you can see in theaters - and to that end it owns the market, as no other Christmas-centric films are due out this year (except for that soulless re-remake "Black Christmas").


With the major talent in front of (and behind) the screen, I expected something a lot better, but "Last Christmas" still gave some yuletide cheer with its upbeat message and strong performances.

The Score: B-