Got me bawling: A review of Last Christmas 2019 movie
Oh wow, what a movie! Let me tell you all that this movie is heavily underrated, like really underrated because I’ve never seen anyone talk about it on any platform until one TikTok edit influenced me to watch it. And now that I have watched it, this is my time to shine to review it and make you guys interested enough to finally watch it! (Seriously though, watch it!)
Okay, let’s start!
Directed by Paul Feig, Last Christmas tells the story of a woman, Kate (also known as Katarina), who has great ambitions but always makes bad, very bad decisions. She does not have a place to live, she gradually lives at his friends’ places alternately. Considering that she has a tendency to make bad and very careless decisions, she often makes fatal mistakes when staying at her friend’s house which in the end makes her get kicked out.
Amid the frenetic difficulties and loss of hope Kate had, a strange yet charming man appeared, Tom Webster, who instead made her forget all the difficulties she had. he helped Kate to see the world in a whole new way. They would always sit by the bench in the garden having conversations with each other (please pay attention to this bench because it will broke you like it did to me)
Every second she spent with Tom Webster was a moment that she felt was too good to be true because of how her life gradually got better after meeting this strangely optimistic man. Amidst her happiness with Tom and as her life gradually improves, Kate discovers a bitter truth about Tom that affects her life.
Clarke’s performance, full of warmth and vulnerability, brings Kate’s character to life, leaving the audience to feel empathy for her struggles. Henry Golding, playing Tom, a mysterious man who is able to attract the hearts of the audience (including me), becomes a breath of fresh air in Kate’s life, leading her on a journey of self-discovery that changes her view of life and a way to better appreciate the meaning of life itself. Although the same theme has been presented in other films, the way this film conveys that message in a whole new way can bring a feeling of amazement to the audience.
The chemistry between Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding put the cherry on top of the movie. Their ability to present an authentic depth of emotion, making their relationship feel real and relatable to the audience. I really felt a sense of their intimacy throughout the scene, how they were able to show the special bond between the main characters is truly amazing. They managed to present a love story based on emotional growth, mutual understanding, and support. Both share light and heavy moments with an almost perfect balance, offering laughter and warmth moments. Oh my, I could for another essay talking about those two!
Not only a warm seasonal love story, but this film also provides a story about personal growth, self-acceptance, and small wonders that we often overlook. Set in the festive city of London during the Christmas season, ‘Last Christmas’ offers a unique combination of humor, drama, and romance packed with warmth that is engraved in the character of Kate.
Beside the use of the setting of London during the Christmas season, the festive nuances can also be felt through the choice of songs offered by this film. That way, I think this film is packaged very well and successfully brings feelings of warmth, family, and nostalgia to touch the hearts of the audience, including myself. I mean, with the references to the famous Christmas song “Last Christmas” by Wham! Itself is a great addition to the movie.
Now the fun part begins!
Is it really a romcom? I don’t think so!
After learning it the hard way, I knew that this to be said “A romcom and lighthearted movie” is not true, at all! Why? Let’s find out!
In the beginning, this movie offers some interesting comedy regarding how Kate got kicked off from her friend’s house and her blunt nature to anyone she met. It really serves as a great start for the movie to get the audience curious about how the story will go on. I do enjoy how they start the plot by showing her struggles in life with a good touch of her quirky side and comedy.
But as the movie goes on, I notice that the character Tom Webster seems a little bit off. When you actually see the movie you might think the character Tom Webster might seem like the biggest mystery which makes you wonder where is he. Why he was rarely seen and around? Why would he not be around when he’s a crucial character to bring character development to Kate? Well here’s an answer!
While you are in awe of seeing the sweetness of Kate and Tom’s scenes together, you will witness a plot twist that brings you to the truth of what beholds behind the character of Tom. Trust me it will bring tears for you as it brings a whole river to me while discovering the truth.
The bench, oh my the holy bench! When you watch the movie, you’ll know how crucial the bench is to the story. This is where Kate begins her character development journey and how it ends when she sits alone reminiscing.
There are more plot twists to be revealed when you watch the movie, which I won’t spoil don’t you guys worry!
Emilia Clarke's astonishing performance as Katarina Andrich? Purr!
I’ve loved her since her performance in Me Before You (2016), which was also a great angst for me to devour. In Me Before You, Emilia Clarke managed to play the character Louisa Clark very stunningly. Clarke’s ability to capture the complexity of Louisa’s character makes the audience feel connected to her character and participate in every emotional journey she experiences. Therefore, I knew I was not wrong for having great expectations for her Last Christmas.
Emilia Clarke blends cheerfulness with imperfection with great success in her portrayal of Kate. Following her success in Me Before You, she also manages to gracefully cultivate the audience with a sense of connection by bringing the character to life with warmth and honesty through Kate’s characteristics. From her unstable beginnings to her amazing growth and her discovery of self-acceptance, Clarke managed to bring out Kate’s emotional improvements. Her performance in ‘Last Christmas’ was indeed appealing and remarkable due to her acting skills, in which she managed to express comedy along with sensitivity, and bring more emotional depth to her character, Kate.
Breaking my silence...
I have to admit while i enjoyed this movie because of how it was packaged so well — the comedy, the character’s story, the chemistry between Henry Golding and Emilia Clarke — this movie has flaws. There are moments when I find myself getting an excessive amount of stuff at once, it makes me feel kind of overwhelmed.
The amount of drama and romance is heavily unbalanced. Despite its main theme being romance comedy, the drama in this movie is a bit too much compared to the romance content. The problems of Kate’s mom, Martha, Kate’s father, and Kate are too much for the audience to comprehend all at once. I believe the romance content is shadowed because of this particular reason.
Maybe the real rom-com is the friends we made along the way…
