Movie Review: Last Christmas

By Rachel Meyer Movie Review:

Last Christmas

When I first heard Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) and Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) were going to be in a movie together, my heart stopped. As a complete sucker for cheesy holiday rom-coms, I knew I had to find time in my busy schedule to go see it. I thought to myself, when two of the most charming

personalities in entertainment, a myriad of Christmas gifts and decorations, and a soundtrack full of George Michael come together on a single big screen, what could possibly go wrong? Last Christmas follows Kate, played by Clarke, who is an aspiring singer living in London after fleeing from her home country of Yugoslavia with her

family. Her job at a Christmas goods store seems to be the only stable thing in her life as she struggles to navigate adulthood after a falling-out with her moth er. She finds herself stuck in a cycle of heavy drinking, crashing on friends’ couches, waking up in strangers’ beds, and missing opportunities that could help further her singing career, and has little motivation to get out of it. This is true until she meets Tom Webster, played by Golding, a dashing bike messenger whose habits are the complete oppo site of Kate’s. He is free-spirited, tidy, charitable, and wholesome. Together, Kate and Tom go on adventures throughout London’s parks and alleyways as he helps her deal with her emotional baggage, never failing to remind Kate of how much beauty you can find in life if you reach out of your comfort zone.

As cute as this may seem, and believe me, it was, and as much as my rom-com-loving heart wants to say the film was perfect, there are some elements that it could’ve done without. Much like the main character’s messy persona, the film felt like it was juggling more storylines than it could handle. The relation ship between Santa, Kate’s boss played by Michelle Yeoh (Crazy Rich Asians), and her mysterious lover serves as comedic relief for a brief moment but never really goes anywhere. Also, the effects of Brexit on immigrants in the United Kingdom are partly to blame for the family turmoil, but the way they are addressed feels clunky and could have been fleshed out a lot smoother. To wards the end of the film, there is an unexpected twist that makes you question everything you had previously sat through. In my best attempt at avoiding spoilers, I want to say that it is unfocused brings attention to a few plot holes throughout the film.

On the other hand, Last Christmas does have its redeem ing qualities. The movie finds the bulk of its charm in how much it embraces diversity and the unique experiences of its characters who hail from all over the world but are all united by the uncertainty messiness that comes with navigating adulthood in modern-day London. Furthermore, the film is more about self-improvement than it is focused on love, which I found refreshing in a rom-com. Overall, despite its many quirks, Last Christmas is a very sweet and cozy holiday movie that is a recommended watch this holiday season!