Last Christmas is an emotionally powerful, funny, and uplifting story of a woman who has lost her way and finds a man who may help her change her life! The story is co-written by Emma Thompson who also co-stars and husband, Greg Wise, her fellow actor in Sense and Sensiblity (1995) and Effie Gray (2014). Thompson is notably a screenwriter with the Jane Austen adaptation and of course has familiarity with romantic comedies starring in Love Actually (2003). Thompson also co-wrote the screenplay with Bryony Kimmings who is known for performance piece, Sex Idiot (2010).
The film is directed by Paul Feig who has re-energized comedy movies with Bridesmaids (2011) and the series Freaks and Geeks. The movie is centered around Emilia Clarke, who of course is known as Daenerys Targaryen, but I also recall her from another romantic film, Me Before You (2016). The tone of that film made me expect that this story would not tread traditional rom-com territory. The title and songs in the films are based on the discography of George Michael. The movie is very clever in using the songs and hints at Michael’s life, which of course keeps the songs on re-play in my mind. In interviews, Thompson consulted with Michael over the use of the songs and this is a very strong tribute to the singer.
The film is directed by Paul Feig who has re-energized comedy movies with Bridesmaids (2011) and the series Freaks and Geeks. The movie is centered around Emilia Clarke, who of course is known as Daenerys Targaryen, but I also recall her from another romantic film, Me Before You (2016). The tone of that film made me expect that this story would not tread traditional rom-com territory. The title and songs in the films are based on the discography of George Michael. The movie is very clever in using the songs and hints at Michael’s life, which of course keeps the songs on re-play in my mind. In interviews, Thompson consulted with Michael over the use of the songs and this is a very strong tribute to the singer.
It opens in church, Yugoslavia, 1999, a young choir is singing. This is in the aftermath of the Kosovo War. Then, we get the soloist, Katarina (Madison Ingoldsby) singing while her family watches her. This includes her mother, Petra (Thompson), and sister Marta (Lucy Miller). This shifts to London, 2017, where Katarina (Clarke) who now goes by Kate, finds herself in meaningless relationships and also homeless. This hapless woman wandering through life is very sympathetic. She rolls around her suitcase which contains her elf outfit. Kate opens up the year round Christmas shop that sells kitchsy goods.
Her boss is Santa played by Michelle Yeoh. We of course know her from Crazy Rich Asians (2018) as well as many action and dramatic roles like Star Trek: Discovery. She plays a strict owner, but there is more to her character and why she owns the shop. Santa calls Kate “Elf.” Kate constantly gets calls from her mother that include the funny ringtone from Fine Young Cannibals. Her sister, Marta (Lydia Leonard) stops by the shop to ask her to call their mother back. Leonard was in the film, The Fifth Estate (2013), and the drama Gentleman Jack. She finds disappointment at her mother fawning over her sister and also the tension that Kate has with her mother.
Her boss is Santa played by Michelle Yeoh. We of course know her from Crazy Rich Asians (2018) as well as many action and dramatic roles like Star Trek: Discovery. She plays a strict owner, but there is more to her character and why she owns the shop. Santa calls Kate “Elf.” Kate constantly gets calls from her mother that include the funny ringtone from Fine Young Cannibals. Her sister, Marta (Lydia Leonard) stops by the shop to ask her to call their mother back. Leonard was in the film, The Fifth Estate (2013), and the drama Gentleman Jack. She finds disappointment at her mother fawning over her sister and also the tension that Kate has with her mother.
Kate has managed to find a place to stay with her best friend, Jenna (Ritu Arya), and her husband Rufus (Ansu Kabia). He does not like Kate hanging around because he spends his time working on complex crafts that don’t survive Kate! It is a low point in Kate’s life and she finds no joy working as an elf. She tries to flirt with a customer, but Santa takes over. Kate then notices through the window, a man in a coat (Henry Golding). He was Nick Young in Crazy Rich Asians and also starred in Feig’s A Simple Favor (2018).
They have a fascinating chemistry, he is different, showing her new things. She leaves the shop to see his attention fixed above, his favorite saying is “Look up”, and he watches a falcon. Kate joins him and gets a gift from above. She is of course embarrassed and upset that the man wants her to join him on a walk. Kate has ambitions to be a professional singer, but just can’t get her life in order to audition properly. She ends up auditioning in her elf suit and fails again. Kate heads back to the shop and finds the man about to make a delivery on his bicycle.
He introduces himself as Tom. She ends up walking with him, looking up, she takes a fall into some rubbish bags! Tom takes Kate to a secluded park where the patrons sit quietly. He tells her their stories. Later, Tom brings Kate to the homeless shelter where he volunteers. Kate finds it strange that he does not have a phone and can’t find him at times. She mentions that she hopes to audition for Frozen on Ice, but can’t ice skate. She ends up at her mother’s house and then they head to a doctor’s appointment. Her mother, Petra, is very funny in her honesty. Kate had an illness in the past.
Tom’s next outing is to sneak into an ice skating rink and she gets steady on ice skates before a security guard interrupts them. At the shop, Santa is stunned to see a Danish worker (Peter Mygind) at a stall next door. She finds she can’t pronounce his name and calls him “Boy”! There is also the question of Brexit and the hatred that came out of it towards immigrants specifically the Yugoslavian people. Petra feels sorrow at the hatred. Kate somehow has to treat others including her family and get back to a holiday cheer. There are twists that hopefully I didn’t spoil! Those who say the film is predictable or saccharine should move back to their Grinch caves and hope that their hearts grow three sizes. There are a number of laughs and dramatic moments that make this movie one of my top rom-coms!
They have a fascinating chemistry, he is different, showing her new things. She leaves the shop to see his attention fixed above, his favorite saying is “Look up”, and he watches a falcon. Kate joins him and gets a gift from above. She is of course embarrassed and upset that the man wants her to join him on a walk. Kate has ambitions to be a professional singer, but just can’t get her life in order to audition properly. She ends up auditioning in her elf suit and fails again. Kate heads back to the shop and finds the man about to make a delivery on his bicycle.
He introduces himself as Tom. She ends up walking with him, looking up, she takes a fall into some rubbish bags! Tom takes Kate to a secluded park where the patrons sit quietly. He tells her their stories. Later, Tom brings Kate to the homeless shelter where he volunteers. Kate finds it strange that he does not have a phone and can’t find him at times. She mentions that she hopes to audition for Frozen on Ice, but can’t ice skate. She ends up at her mother’s house and then they head to a doctor’s appointment. Her mother, Petra, is very funny in her honesty. Kate had an illness in the past.
Tom’s next outing is to sneak into an ice skating rink and she gets steady on ice skates before a security guard interrupts them. At the shop, Santa is stunned to see a Danish worker (Peter Mygind) at a stall next door. She finds she can’t pronounce his name and calls him “Boy”! There is also the question of Brexit and the hatred that came out of it towards immigrants specifically the Yugoslavian people. Petra feels sorrow at the hatred. Kate somehow has to treat others including her family and get back to a holiday cheer. There are twists that hopefully I didn’t spoil! Those who say the film is predictable or saccharine should move back to their Grinch caves and hope that their hearts grow three sizes. There are a number of laughs and dramatic moments that make this movie one of my top rom-coms!
Five Rolling Suitcases out of Five!
#LastChristmas, #PaulFeig, #EmiliaClarke, #HenryGolding, #EmmaThompson, #MichelleYeoh
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