Last Christmas - A Movie Review

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart - to help you find a new meaning.

Released to theaters in 2019, Last Christmas revolves around a woman who makes terrible decisions. Trying to make better of her life, Kate meets someone. Tom opens her eyes to the world, challenging her to accept the values of life and family.

Ever since its release, Last Christmas has been given mixed reviews. That didn’t stop me from my intrigue of the story. Hearing one spoiler, I went into the film with a very different prediction. Last Christmas has an obvious plot but it conveys a significant message regarding the values of family and self-care.

Emilia Clarke does a tremendous job as Kate. Her singing voice was a highlight. At first, I did not like Kate’s immature behavior and attitude. Uncovering the layers, we get to know Kate along with the reason behind who she is. Asking for help is okay. Kate learns to take better control and mend important relationships.

People walk into our lives for a reason. The first time I saw Henry Golding was in Crazy Rich Asians. Last Christmas allowed him to expand further of his acting capabilities. Golding delivers a memorable dramatic performance as Tom. Clarke and Golding worked very well together in their interactions. Their sarcasm was the best.

I don’t know how I did not recognize her, but I did not realize that was Emma Thompson until the end credits! Thompson is a highlight. She does a fantastic job creating a realistic Yugoslavian accent.

Other credits to include are Lydia Leonard, Michelle Yeoh, Boris Isakovic, Rebecca Root, and an ensemble of talented character actors. No matter how small their part is, everyone stands out. Shoutout goes to Madison Ingoldsby for her short but memorable solo.

My most favorite subplot of all in Last Christmas was the relationship between Kate and Santa (Michelle Yeoh). Although they have had their ups and downs, the film implements the importance of having social interactions with your boss.

I can relate to this. The boss has an essential duty in any business. Never be afraid to make a connection with your boss because they just may give you the advice that you need.

In almost every review I have read, audiences constantly pick at the story. Storywise, the film could have been stronger. There were various subplots regarding Kate and Tom, Kate’s family, and Kate’s direction in life.

I would have liked to have seen more attention given to Kate’s relationship with her family. Scenes with the family were the best. And funny. You can never go wrong with a humorous chaotic family dinner sequence. The dynamic between the family needed more time for development.

I also feel that Kate’s backstory with her illness could have been elaborated better. Writers may have left her storyline ambiguous so as not to ruin a key reveal early in the story. Aside from the trailer giving away an important detail, I think the story writers did a nice job with the setup. It was somewhat confusing with the way writers adapted it, but it worked.

Overall, Paul Feig delivered a film to viewers who are lost in their direction right now. Reach out if you need help. Location-wise the film acquires the right holiday atmosphere. Some well-known holiday tunes bring out the mood in the background. I’m sure you’ll be humming the song ‘Last Christmas’ endlessly after the conclusion of the film.

You have to put Last Christmas on your list of Christmas movies to watch this holiday season. It is a heartfelt story that will make you smile from ear to ear.