Last Christmas review: Emilia Clarke shines in this off-kilter rom-com
Emilia Clarke leads an impressive cast in the funny, wholehearted, and slightly bizarre Christmas-centric romantic comedy Last Christmas.
Although we’re still more than a month and a half away from Christmas, Paul Feig and Emma Thompson kicked off the beginning of the holiday season with their festive romantic comedy, Last Christmas. Starring Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) and Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) as the romantic leads, the film follows Kate (Clarke), a down-on-her-luck Yugoslavian immigrant whose life is turned upside down after a chance meeting with the handsome and spirited Tom (Golding).
The film’s premise is fairly unremarkable (and, some might say, predictable), but there’s a certain odd charm to Last Christmas that elevates it beyond the standard holiday date-night fare. This may be attributed, at least in part, to the film’s soundtrack — which is comprised entirely of songs from George Michael’s (extensive) catalog. His ear-wormingly catchy tunes provide a chipper soundtrack for much of the movie’s hijinks, often to the point where the lyrics of the music quite literally describe the events taking place in the film (more on that later).
However, beyond Michael’s soundtrack, the real star of the show is Emilia Clarke. It may seem like an odd choice for an actress of her caliber to chose a romantic comedy after coming off of the most successful show in modern TV history, but Clarke fully commits to the role of the messy, downtrodden Kate, and sells both herself and the film with admirable zest. She nails the comedic moments (which is also, in part, thanks to a mostly strong script from Emma Thompson and Bryony Kimmings), and though she starts out as a scrooge, it’s easy to fall in love with her right alongside Tom.
Speaking of our male lead, Golding’s Tom acts as a sort of manic pixie dream boy, a refreshing shake-up from the usual romantic formula. Golding is spritely and cheerful, oftentimes literally bouncing and dancing circles around Clarke, but his sincerity (and razor-sharp jawline) make him a perfect match for Kate.
Rounding out the cast are Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Emma Thompson (Love Actually). Yeoh is charming as Kate’s boss, who refers to herself as “Santa,” and embarks on her own subplot for love. Her lines may not always be as snarky or funny as Clarke’s are, but she does the most she can with the material she’s given.
Thompson plays Kate’s heavily-accented Yugoslavian mother, whose storyline takes a surprisingly political turn for a film that could easily fall among the ranks of Hallmark Christmas movies. Don’t get us wrong, however: Last Christmas’s Brexit references were a surprisingly tasteful element that added a layer of nuance to the film, as did the film’s spotlight on the homeless population in London.
In addition to its dealings with immigrant populations in the U.K. and Brexit, Last Christmas also hits the nail on the head when it comes to inclusivity. There are no couples comprised of only straight, white characters, and there is also a significant presence of disabled characters in the supporting cast. It’s a small detail, but one that should be noted and appreciated, especially given the genre’s proclivities towards the same squeaky-clean image of what a leading couple looks like.
All of that being said, it’s difficult to talk about Last Christmas without mentioning what most viewers will immediately be eager to discuss after viewing the film: the twist ending. It’s somewhat of a spoiler to even say that Last Christmas has a twist ending, but formula-savvy viewers (or those who pay close attention to lyrics) may be able to see the ending coming. Admittedly, the twist is somewhat predictable, but the cheesiness of it all seems to just add to the movie’s campy charm.
Though Last Christmas may not be a feat of dramatic cinema, it certainly has enough comedy, heart, and George Michael tunes to make for an enjoyable moviegoing experience.
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