01.27.08

The Last Kiss

Posted in drama, reviews at 2:12 am by FilmFemme

Painfully honest in so many ways, The Last Kiss is a well made and likable ensemble romantic (?) drama.  Zach Braff (what’s the deal with his lips?  they’re so puffy…) is totally in love with Jacinda Barrett (she is really lovely - I don’t think there is a better word to describe her) who is pregnant.  But, he’s 29 and therefore completely terrified of commitment because, you know, not fucking another woman for the rest of your life is not really much better than death.  You know, I don’t mean to be flippant about that, because it does sound pretty terrifying.  Anyway.

Michael (Braff) is at a friend’s wedding and meets Kim (Rachel Bilson).  The two embark on a very short and nearly innocent affair.  Meanwhile, Michael’s best friends face their own crises.  Chris (Casey Affleck) isn’t sure if he wants to stay married to the nagging mother of his toddler, Izzy (Michael Weston) had his heart broken and wants to go to South America to get away from his pain and Kenny (Eric Christian Olsen) is just fucking whoever he can (which is like, a lot of hot chicks because he’s pretty fucking sexy).  Jenna (Barrett) is not only facing the crisis of having a baby, but her parents, Anna (Blythe Danner) and Stephen (Tom Wilkinson) are having their own problems because Anna doesn’t feel loved and wants to run away with Harold Ramis.  Soooo many relationship problems in this movie.

But something about it doesn’t go over the top.  I never felt like it was too much drama - I just felt that it was real.  It’s real to be scared of having a baby or to feel like your life isn’t really all you thought it was going to be, even though it looks like it is.  Also, as much as someone might want to demonize Michael for ultimately fucking Kim while Jenna is home alone & pregnant - it’s Rachel Bilson, guys.  And she is coming on to him *strong*  Who is going to resist that?  I wouldn’t, even if I was pregnant.

The writing and the performances were really what stood out in this movie.  I thought Casey Affleck was really good in his supporting part and Blythe Danner was regal yet vulnerable and Jacinda Barrett really redeemed herself from Poseidon (which I actually liked…) “Range” isn’t really a word that comes to mind when you say “Zach Braff” but this was a good role for him.  For all the problems it enumerates, The Last Kiss still made me really want a boyfriend

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