Nov 8

Nov 8 Last Christmas

SPECIAL EXCEPTION REVIEW: We focus our energy and expertise on made-for-TV Christmas movies. But when a Christmas movie hits the theaters, especially one based around George Michael’s canon, we knew people would ask for our take. S0 we left work early, splurged on the real butter popcorn, and settled in to watch “Last Christmas.” Minor Spoilers Ahead.

Last+Christmas.jpg — Christmas clichés:

Charity Work
Ice Skating Scene
Tree Buy & Trim
Carolers
Town Festival or Pageant
Surprise! Christmas Lights

Our Thoughts

We meet Kate (don’t call her Katarina, her given Yugoslavian name) as a semi-homeless, alcohol-and-hookup-loving lady working as an “elf” in a gaudy Christmas store. Played by the likable Emilia Clarke, Kate never seems like she’s hit rock bottom; instead, she seems like a selfish friend who doesn’t care about her job or family, especially her overbearing mother (Emma Thompson, who’s fantastic, according to Jess, and an inexplicable caricature, according to Rob).

Kicked off her last friend’s couch and late to a singing audition (the Mother of Dragon sings, and she ain’t bad), Kate befriends the friendly, khakied Tom (Henry Golding, who’s still best in “A Simple Favor”). He shows her a secret city garden, the fun in sparkling Christmas goods, and the beauty when you “Look Up” to see the details of London that no one notices.

Sounds like the makings of a fantastic Christmas movie, right? Keep reading…

Major Spoilers Ahead.

Seriously. Do not read unless you’ve already seen the flick or you have no interest in seeing it.

We heard the movie was inspired by Wham’s “Last Christmas.” Little did we realize THEY TOOK ITS LYRICS LITERALLY and actually thought they’d make a good plot device. Tom is a ghost who LITERALLY gave Kate his heart via transplant after he was “looking up” and got hit by a truck. The “very next day,” she didn’t know how to handle the feeling of a new heart and “gave it away” to alcohol and one-night-stands.

Besides that baffling twist, which wasn’t too hard to call given that Tom only interacts with Kate and dances out of the way of others, we had many questions about the plot:

Where does Tom go during the day? Rob’s theory is that he donated other body parts, so he spends his missing hours trying to “save” those who took his eyes, his liver, etc. Seems reasonable, though that’s us trying to make sense of his absence.
Why the Brexit references? Out of nowhere, Kate’s mother is feeling fear about being an immigrant from Yugoslavia and what Brexit might mean to her. Don’t get us wrong: we are Remainers. But this plotline has no place in the movie. It doesn’t justify how Kate responds to her mother or go anywhere beyond a sweet interaction on a bus with strangers.
Why sauerkraut? Ok, this question is a divider in our house. Jess adored the sweet Dane who courted “Santa,” Kate’s boss. His small quirk was his fascination with fermented cabbage. Who doesn’t? Rob felt differently—he didn’t understand the need for said detail, nor did he swoon at the Dane and Santa’s blossoming love story that started with a gilded Christmas gibbon. (See the movie to get that reference.)

Step back from these bizarre details and the latter half of the movie could melt your heart. The Charity Work Kate performs for the local homeless shelter, specifically the auditions for the Christmas Pageant, feel genuine and demonstrate Kate’s evolution. And the happy wrap-up of familial plotlines has the essence of the season—parents mending old wounds, sisters forgiving transgressions, and family sing-a-longs to traditional tunes.

When something ends better than it begins, it’s tough to rate. You might adore the details that make this movie unique. But don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Rob's Final Take: Not Very Merry
Emilia Clarke puts the boom boom into my heart. It’s just too bad that this film’s script and cast had to get in her way. At least London looked lovely…

Jess's Final Take: Merry
The first half is dull, and the transplant twist is a little ridiculous. But Emilia Clarke is dynamic. Her redemption is compelling enough to give this another viewing.