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At this time of year, many people dust off their favorite holiday movies. They tune in to Freeform or the Hallmark Channel to watch Christmas comedies or holiday romance. But for those who feel like venturing out to their local theater for some holiday romance and cheer, there’s Paul Feig’s George Michael-inspired Last Christmas.
Last Christmas stumbles through the streets of London with Kate (Emilia Clarke), an aimless young woman who’s notorious for being impulsive and clumsy and generally clueless about everything and everyone around her. Though she dreams of performing as a singer, she spends her days working as an elf in a year-round Christmas store. But then she meets Tom (Henry Golding), a sweet, thoughtful, and incredibly handsome guy who seemingly appears out of nowhere. His upbeat personality and fresh perspective on life change everything for Kate—and, with his help, she begins to turn her life around.
Really, the plot summary alone is loaded with familiar holiday movie elements: music, elf costumes, a life-changing relationship. Kate may be a bit of a mess—which gives the film plenty of comic touches—but, from the start, it’s pretty clear that this isn’t going to be the outrageous comedy that you might be expecting from the guy who’s made a bunch of movies with Melissa McCarthy. It’s sweet and dramatic and romantic—the kind of movie that tugs on viewers’ heartstrings early on and just keeps tugging.
Everything about the film is Christmas-movie charming—and sometimes a little clichéd, too. Kate is lovably bumbling. The Christmas store where she works is magically over-the-top. Her boss (Michelle Yeoh) is amusingly cranky. And any time of year is a good time of year for a soundtrack filled with George Michael’s hits. But then there’s this guy…this wonderful, mysterious, unpredictable guy who’s way too good to be true. If you’re able to let yourself get caught up in the magic of Christmas, you’ll settle right into the romance of it all, swooning at Tom’s old-fashioned sweetness, shedding tears over the kind, compassionate things that he says to this poor, damaged girl. Everyone else, meanwhile, will be left with that nagging feeling that something’s just not right here. Maybe you’ll know exactly what’s coming, or maybe it’s just a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. But when the truth comes out, it may dim some of that holiday spirit.
Last Christmas is definitely a charming holiday film. It’s filled with lovable characters and sweet scenarios—not to mention a message about the real spirit of the holidays. But if you’re looking for a clever and over-the-top new Christmas comedy to add to your holiday viewing, you may end up frustrated in the end.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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