Last Christmas Review
Myla Tosatto
Last Christmas is a perfectly charming English holiday movie. It encompasses many of the same story tropes that other Christmas stories have used time and time again: the plight of the working
man/immigrants/homeless people, atonement, ghosts, good cheer, and super corny Christmas songs. Paul Feig wraps up stars Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding in pretty bows and funny lines written by Emma Thompson (who also stars), Greg Wise, and Bryony Kimmings. This film has lots and lots of laughs, but it also has lots and lots of emotions (I heard sniffles in the audience- best bring tissue). Luckily, Ms Clarke can deliver both the funny and the drama handily. Michelle Yeoh also exercises her
comedy chops in Last Christmas. Who knew she could be so funny?
In keeping with the super current trend of using musicians’ life work as the basis of a movie (Yesterday had the Beatles, Blinded by the Light had Bruce Springsteen, etc.). Wham! and George Michael’s catalog is scattered throughout the movie with Last Christmas being the cornerstone number, obviously. Thompson does a good job of weaving the story’s emotions with the various songs.
This movie is a love letter to London. Honestly, London has not been this gorgeous since the Paddington movies (please tell me you have already seen them). Many scenes are filmed at Covent Garden which is simply marvelous.
There is an inevitable comparison to another British holiday movie. People are wondering if it can dethrone the beloved (and also much maligned for some reason) Love Actually. Only time will tell. Luckily, Emma Thompson makes royalties from both!
So put your Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie programming guide down and dash away, dash away, dash away all to Last Christmas!