Speaking on stage before an audience, much like us, cute radiant Emilia Clarke as Kate, dressed in Elf green, says, "We are so lucky to be alive..." Well, Kate would know. In 1999 she and her family, including Mom Petra, played by Emma Thompson, immigrated to London from war-torn Yugoslavia. A couple years ago Kate had surgery to literally fix her broken heart. That's the unexpected back narrative of Director Paul Feig's "Last Christmas", his romantic comedy from the screenplay by Emma Thompson and Bryony Kimmings.
Following her recovery from tragedy, Kate, who's an aspiring singer and huge fan of George Michael, like I am, lives her uninspired life. She has meaningless relationships with dudes, she meets in bars. She eats crappy food. Kate often finds herself homeless, sans flat-mate, because of her unaccountability.
Hilarious beautiful Michelle Yeoh plays Santa (not her real name), who owns the year-round Christmas gift shop in London. Santa hires Kate to work in her shop, hence the Elf motif. As Thomas Hardy said, "Character is Fate." That's Kate. Santa grants her one final reprieve. Michelle tearfully says, "But it's like you don't care anymore..." Ironically, Michelle's Santa cares. Deep down Emilia's Kate does, too.
One day outside the shop, Kate meets enigmatic charming handsome Tom, played by Henry Golding. Hysterically, both admit: They're not their 'type'. Their fate is entirely telegraphed miles away.
Yet, in the touching narrative arc of "Last Christmas" Kate confesses to Tom, that she was "really sick". She's better now, but she feels that part of herself is literally gone. She says, "I'm just scared all the time." And that people expect her to be "normal". Tom wisely says, "There's no such thing as 'normal'. It's just being a human being is hard..." Amen, that can be hard.
In the movie, Tom always tells Kate, "Look up." Perhaps, that's opposed to looking down, looking in the past. Look forward to life.
That being all said, I really liked Paul's "Last Christmas". It does take the surprising narrative turn that I didn't entirely expect, although it remains poignantly human. Emma wrote "Last Christmas" based on the Wham! song written by pop icon George Michael. "Last Christmas" - the movie, features many George Michael songs, including "Freedom 90" which holds personal meaning for the story and for me. George's "Freedom 90" was his anthem for freedom, freedom that he didn't experience most of his adult life, something I can relate to. That kind of freedom is what Emilia's Kate discovers in herself.
Yeah, Emma and Bryony's screen narrative could have been better. It's often misguided. Emma's own character Petra is nearly caricature in Slavic accent as the worried Mother of Kate and her younger sister Marta, played by believably sullen Lydia Leonard. Although, favorite Kate works in a Christmas Shop, Marta is the rising star attorney. Yet, Marta hasn't told her parents: She's gay.
Michelle's wry maternal affection for Kate is the genuine savior of "Last Christmas". However, introducing her goofy romantic interest in Scandinavian 'Boy', played funny Peter Mygind, occurs forced. Checking one of the romantic comedy boxes.
Still "Last Christmas" works because of the eloquent partnership of Emilia and Henry. Emilia's authentic self-awareness, albeit in a comic narrative, is inspired. Her Kate suffers over feeling broken, and fears that feeling might never go away. In Henry's calm easy presence as Tom, she sees perhaps, hope. Her Kate says, "I didn't heal my heart just to give it away, and have it broken, again." That lands. It's more than just some Wham! Christmas song lyric.
After all: "We are all so lucky to be alive." That also personally landed for me. A friend of mine apparently didn't feel that, and ended his life. Yes, there shall always be suffering the world, particularly when living in silence. Yet, that suffering is finite. Sadly, my friend didn't see life as the gift worth living for.
So although, "Last Christmas" might be flawed at times, its heart is in the right space. Paul, Emilia, Henry, and Michelle give their best, they give their hearts. Emma is absolutely right: "We're so lucky to be alive." As Tom says, "Look up." Look forward to life. Just saying.
Following her recovery from tragedy, Kate, who's an aspiring singer and huge fan of George Michael, like I am, lives her uninspired life. She has meaningless relationships with dudes, she meets in bars. She eats crappy food. Kate often finds herself homeless, sans flat-mate, because of her unaccountability.
Hilarious beautiful Michelle Yeoh plays Santa (not her real name), who owns the year-round Christmas gift shop in London. Santa hires Kate to work in her shop, hence the Elf motif. As Thomas Hardy said, "Character is Fate." That's Kate. Santa grants her one final reprieve. Michelle tearfully says, "But it's like you don't care anymore..." Ironically, Michelle's Santa cares. Deep down Emilia's Kate does, too.
One day outside the shop, Kate meets enigmatic charming handsome Tom, played by Henry Golding. Hysterically, both admit: They're not their 'type'. Their fate is entirely telegraphed miles away.
Yet, in the touching narrative arc of "Last Christmas" Kate confesses to Tom, that she was "really sick". She's better now, but she feels that part of herself is literally gone. She says, "I'm just scared all the time." And that people expect her to be "normal". Tom wisely says, "There's no such thing as 'normal'. It's just being a human being is hard..." Amen, that can be hard.
In the movie, Tom always tells Kate, "Look up." Perhaps, that's opposed to looking down, looking in the past. Look forward to life.
That being all said, I really liked Paul's "Last Christmas". It does take the surprising narrative turn that I didn't entirely expect, although it remains poignantly human. Emma wrote "Last Christmas" based on the Wham! song written by pop icon George Michael. "Last Christmas" - the movie, features many George Michael songs, including "Freedom 90" which holds personal meaning for the story and for me. George's "Freedom 90" was his anthem for freedom, freedom that he didn't experience most of his adult life, something I can relate to. That kind of freedom is what Emilia's Kate discovers in herself.
Yeah, Emma and Bryony's screen narrative could have been better. It's often misguided. Emma's own character Petra is nearly caricature in Slavic accent as the worried Mother of Kate and her younger sister Marta, played by believably sullen Lydia Leonard. Although, favorite Kate works in a Christmas Shop, Marta is the rising star attorney. Yet, Marta hasn't told her parents: She's gay.
Michelle's wry maternal affection for Kate is the genuine savior of "Last Christmas". However, introducing her goofy romantic interest in Scandinavian 'Boy', played funny Peter Mygind, occurs forced. Checking one of the romantic comedy boxes.
Still "Last Christmas" works because of the eloquent partnership of Emilia and Henry. Emilia's authentic self-awareness, albeit in a comic narrative, is inspired. Her Kate suffers over feeling broken, and fears that feeling might never go away. In Henry's calm easy presence as Tom, she sees perhaps, hope. Her Kate says, "I didn't heal my heart just to give it away, and have it broken, again." That lands. It's more than just some Wham! Christmas song lyric.
After all: "We are all so lucky to be alive." That also personally landed for me. A friend of mine apparently didn't feel that, and ended his life. Yes, there shall always be suffering the world, particularly when living in silence. Yet, that suffering is finite. Sadly, my friend didn't see life as the gift worth living for.
So although, "Last Christmas" might be flawed at times, its heart is in the right space. Paul, Emilia, Henry, and Michelle give their best, they give their hearts. Emma is absolutely right: "We're so lucky to be alive." As Tom says, "Look up." Look forward to life. Just saying.