Last Christmas reviewed by Mark Kermode
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- Опубликовано: 14 ноя 2019
- Mark Kermode reviews Last Christmas. Kate, a young woman with a history of making bad decisions, finds herself working as an elf in a department store. But when she meets Tom, her life seems to take a positive turn.
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Only 51 seconds in and I sense an enormous 'but' coming my way....
.. and I cannot lie.
Richard Jones He walks around with that huge but all day. Not yet discovered low-carb.
Makes me genuinely sad to hear how sad Mark is about this film
you'll get over it
Why so? What are you, Emma Thompson's manager/publicist!?
@@sirbarnabyst.johntoffingto9017 I am Emma Thompson
@@SOLXXX41 No, I'm Emma Thompson
@@kaykutcher2103 I'm Emma Thompson naked in Scotland, waiting for the police!
The first two minutes of this are almost like Of Mice And Men.
Kermode being George and the film being Lenny.
And 1:27 is the moment Kermode ruefully loads the shotgun and pulls the trigger.
"You were crying through disappointment?" That's a statement and a half.
I rewatched this film, I had to, I think it's brilliant. I've also rewatched this review and I really have no idea what he is going on about and why he does not like it. I was laughing out loud. I especially loved the bit where her mum starts to sing her to sleep, and the twist, oh god, that got me right in the tear ducts. I just cannot understand why it is getting bad reviews.
It looks just awful from the trailers.
Even the trailer made me want those two minutes of my damn life back!
Agreed, the trailer looks horrendous, but the movie is actually surprisingly good.
Yeah not seen the film. But the trailer cringe city
Finally, a trailer that accurately reflects the movie at large.
"I think it's... bad."
I respect and understand Mark's take on this, he's obviously not alone, but I really enjoyed Last Christmas. It doesn't really work as a romcom, for obvious reasons, and a lot of the funny bits aren't all that funny; but Kate as the lost soul rescued, in the manner of A Christmas Carol or It's A Wonderful Life, is Christmas to a T.
skip to 5:22 for the full review in one sentence
Digital Self Praying that Emma Thompson is watching .
5:24 for the full review in one word.
I didn't care about the George Michael angle at all, I just found it funny and sweet. I normally wouldn't have any interest in a movie like this but it's hard to be negative about something as positive and harmless as this.
4:20 that did make me cry. I agree. That is super classy. Heartbreaking for the film makers but I could see even from the trailer that they used a formula like a join the dots way of film production.
It's on Netflix! It's alright...
Feels like a very very handsome Hallmark movie with some quirk and a good heart
Usually pretty much agree with Mark on films but not this time, I thoroughly enjoyed this.
Saw it today and was surprised to really like it. I know it was a bit clunky and contrived but Emilia was fantastic. I couldn't take my eyes off her. And I thought the male lead was great too.
There were bits that I enjoyed and I agree that they had charm but I was disappointed even WITH the expectation that it would be a cheesy Christmas-only film
I don't get it mark. I honestly love this film. I will be watching this every year alongside love actually. Cus it makes me laugh, and by god does it make me cry. Plus I'd somehow gone through life without ever hearing George's praying for time which has quickly become one of my favourite ever songs, and I think was used beautifully in the movie.
This is why I listen to Kermode & Mayo and why I respect Mark Kermode's opinion. He isn't a cynic, he doesn't set out to trash other people's work and when he talks about cinema he does it from a place of honesty and openness, and love for the medium. When Last Christmas was on TV this week I watched it to check if I my reaction when I saw it in the cinema in 2019 was harsh or if it really was as bad as I remembered. It was. It's shockingly misjudged from start to finish. It was written by someone who has a passing awareness of "Fleabag" but doesn't understand what makes it funny and poignant and has a passing awareness of George Michael's music but doesn't understand what makes it powerful and memorable. As a fan of Emma Thompson (and Paul Feig) I found it very sad to watch.
Can you edit in the moment Mayo says "So you loved it then?" in at the end?
81% on Rotten Tomatoes audience score the people have spoken Mark!!!
The people are WRONG. And the only ones who are allowed to review it have already bought tickets, so they're deluding themselves to avoid feeling disappointed. ^^
Loved the movie. It made me cry even though I knew the plot twist. I don't watch movies to see reality but to escape it. The one thing I agreed with in that review was that the plot is contrived at end
Just watched this with the fam on BBC2. I quite enjoyed it and didn't expect the sad ending. Maybe I wasn’t paying enough attention but I really didn’t think it was that bad.
Just watched it too and also enjoyed it, although this is mainly down to Emilia Clarke who I think is just the most effortlessly charming and uplifting person alive.
But I agree with Mark that it's definitely flawed in several ways. The script and story is uninspired and unfocused. And if you judge it by its genre, well it's not quite as romantic or comic as I would've liked. I think it's harsh to be too critical on it though. As he says its heart is in the right place and apart from a few unnecessary things, I can't deny it put me in a Christmasy mood.
I'm sure I'll watch it again next year too
@@bwoahviously I didn't mind it but I agree Emilia Clarke was great-she was carrying that film.
Anyone who uses the term 'fam' in a serious way is obviously a moron, so we can safely ignore the rest of your mini-review. ;)
A Simple Favor was like that last bit of salad in the fridge from three days ago.
Not what I was expecting you to say Mark. Insightful, as always ;)
Recently watched for the first time and I was overjoyed and loved the film. Not here to troll though, a genuine philosophical question. It's amazing how I could start a review of this film in the same manner as Mark, only instead I loved it. I'm no critic but I watch hundreds of movies from multiple genres and cultures and language, so I'm definitely not just into what's popular. Usually I don't like most popular films that much. It's fascinating to me when 2 people can walk out of the same film with such vastly disproportionate feelings. That is why I love cinema so much.
"I think its....bad"
I already watched it 2 times and counting (with my parents tomorrow because oh boy at the end I just got this feeling of wanting to hug the people I love the most in the world ) and I feel like every time I'll love it more ❤ a lesson of self love, beautiful 🎄❤
After writing my comment and looking at some others I'm kind of feeling sad for some and lol at others like damn how a cute movie like this got so many pressed but anyways for each their own
This is a great holiday movie for the family to enjoy. The performance of the cast is delightful and the chemistry between was authentic. Set back and enjoy this movie your family. Merry Christmas!
Don't they damage underneath of motors when they lift em by fork lift???
Good grief, I am gob smacked by this review. I was knocked out by this film. I loved the actress lead and the story I thought brilliant. Very emotional. I bet this guy would also think the film I watch every Christmas is also rubbish, One Magic Christmas.
Hi I'm new,was looking for review for this film but I saw the big reviewers haven't done it
Saw this review and after the Le Mans 66 one and subbed, greetings from Romania
Paul Feig is frigging hilarious in Sabrina The Teenage Witch series 1. He does seem like a genuinely nice guy, just has made a few stinkers of films.
David Nash he did well with Bridesmaids and Spy.
He's just incredibly naive. He's like the anti-Michael Bay. He makes the exact opposite kind of wrong decisions thinking he's giving people what they want.
Yeah I think his hearts in the right place but he just let's people who shouldn't be making decisions make decisions. Because hes too nice to reign them in. Freaks and geeks was really good.
Is there a reason Mark never reviewed 2019's The Addams Family?
I've not seen Last Christmas yet, but I can at least say that I disagree that Mark misjudged the Greatest Showman. I was so thankful that I wasn't the only one to find that film awful. Why does it have so much praise? The songs are a mixed bag, the story is actually not only bland and boring but also immoral and glorifies a time in history of exploitation and discrimination as this thing of splendour and beauty. The Greatest Showman is probably the biggest let down of a film for me that I've seen aside from Suicide Squad.
Greatest Showman is just a fantasy, divorced from reality [similar to Oliver! in some ways]. I think they should have given Hugh Jackman's character a new name rather than use a real person to make that clear. There is a big 'class' aspect to the story which appeals to UK viewers and the songs are really catchy so people love singing along with it. It's not the greatest story ever but the actors [especially Jackman] are so good they suck you in and they sell the roles well. I think also because there is a lack of family friendly films around now a days and new musicals [it took Hugh Jackman 8 years to get it made] helped. But it's not for everyone and I know plenty of people who don't get it.
I'm not even interested in this movie, but Mark's disappointment had choked up! lol
For me, Paul Feig is a bargain basement director that just happened to get really lucky with one film. Even so, I could put that aside for Emma Thompson and Emilia Clarke, although this was never going to be something I'd see at the cinema. For one it always seemed very much a cliched Xmas movie (even before the trailers dropped) and two, it's just a couple of weeks too early for a Xmas film. Makes me think they know it won't do too well, so they're getting it out of the way. I'll still watch this when it's free because I find Emilia charming and sometimes but for cinema it's a definite pass.
I was going to see this at the cinema myself but after watching this review, he's convinced me not to. And I found the November release odd, probably because it doesn't want to compete with Star Wars next month. Also I like Emilia Clarke too but I'll wait until it's released on Netflix and probably watch it in the summer. lol
Man, I mean t ' tell y'all...if they wanted to make some sorta kinda limey-assed rom-com flick 'bout ghosts and Xmas and fluffy kindsa nonsense like that, then my opinion 's they shoulda maybe cast godamn Miley Cyrus as some kinda satanic Xmas pixie who cannot stop getting her damn t*ts out on a reg'lar basis, know wha ' I'm - a - sayin' fellers!?
Yeeehaaaaggghhhh!!! Ride 'em cowboy!
Cowboy Joe from Mexico - else Texas whatever drugs 💊💊you 's on buddy, I want some!👍
Big damn shame, the movie was better than fine and the cast make it happen. Is it a revelation- no- but I didn't expect anything from it and it gave me the holiday feels and took me out my doldrums. My heart grew, well, maybe not three sizes, but at least one, that day.
Oh dear, The Grinch has arrived well before Christmas. I've just got back from watching this as a nice, undemanding film to see on my birthday. Firstly I was surprised at how full the cinema was, especially on a Tuesday afternoon. At normal afternoon showings that I see the audience rarely reaches double figures. I thought there were quite a few funny bits and the rest of the audience were laughing even more than me. It did have a 'Love Actually' feel and I found it quite heartwarming. Indeed I came out of the cinema feeling quite uplifted, and you can't ask for more than that in a birthday-treat film.
@Steven Lee Looks like we had very different experiences. I enjoyed it, so maybe it helps to see it in a nearly full cinema with a lot of other people who are also clearly enjoying it.
It’s *never* a good sign (for the film!) as you’re watching a Kermode review, & you suddenly notice that the *very next video* YT’s algorithm has automatically queued-up to *immediately* play afterwards, is 2018’s deplorable Will Ferrell & John C. Reilly movie *'Holmes & Watson'!'* - swiftly [alas!] followed by *'Sex & the City 2'!*
Was it influenced by Event Horizon?
I saw it last night. I really enjoyed it to be honest, but the "Brexit subplot" was so crowbared in it was jarring. It's only about three scenes that had absolutely nothing to do with the plot. It was a story about a troubled young woman finding meaning and value in her life, oh and by the way Leave voters are racist. If that's your opinion, fine, but what does that have to do with this?
Edit: Also, I did see the twist coming a mile away, but that didn't really ruin it for me, in general I liked it and the rest of the cinema seemed to as well.
We all called it in the trailer didn’t we... I thought the trailer just looked so generic and looked like something you’d see on the lifetime channel. It’s a shame
Oh well , never mind!
Hopefully Next Christmas will turn out to be a damn sight better!! 😁
What kind of annoyed we was that I guessed the plot twist before I even saw it , I wish that they would have done something completely different
Is Mark actually on the verge of tears over this dreadful movie? I think he needs a holiday.
You could tell from the trailer it was going to be terrible
I couldn't even get through the trailer.
You're a lucky one!
I had to see the trailer in the theaters. Some guy next to me said to his wife, "Looks like a hallmark movie."
@@jakfan09 You have my sympathy....
I don’t know, I went with my girlfriend and I think that helped my viewing experience. Also I’ve never really seen a “good” rom com so ig I didn’t really have anything to compare it too. I thought Henry Goulding carried Clark in this movie tho, he’s so charming he got something out of her.
First off, Goulding carried Clarke? Seriously. She is waaaaay more charismatic and a much better actor. Also, you haven't seen any good rom-coms? Might I suggest getting your hands on a copy of When Harry Met Sally as soon as humanly possible? Or Annie Hall. Or the Apartment.These, at the very least, aren't just "good", they're among the best films ever made.
Ilan Preskovsky considering I’ve never heard of any of those and never even heard a movie buff talk about them I seriously doubt they’re up there with the best ever, but I will check them out. Also yes Goulding 100% carried her in this movie. She may be a better actor but she didn’t show it in this movie, her character just came out as a bad person not a good person doing bad. Which is what she was aiming for.
@@austinbridges7928 er, what kind of film buff hasn't heard of these? They're rather acclaimed classics by Woody Allen, Rob Reiner and Billy Wilder.
Ilan Preskovsky Stuckman, Jeremy Jahns just to name a couple, never mention them as up there with the best films ever made. That’s who I personally listen to.
@@austinbridges7928 Those are good reviewers but if they're unfamiliar with or don't properly rate these films, it's a huge blindspot. These are not some obscure cult favourites we're talking about here but rightly acknowledged classics by some of the greatest filmmakers of their respective eras. That Apartment and Annie Hall have always been considered masterpieces and When Harry Met Sally has only grown in appreciation over the years.
Anything directed by Pauk Feig is a hard pass from me.
A bargain basement director who got really lucky with one film.
A Simple Favour was alright.
WhiskeyJack Did you not actually watch the *content* of this video? MK makes an explicit point about the director NOT complaining about a particularly poor review.
@@jimjam7928 yeah, he should get back in the kitchen right! Good one whiskey Jack aa
@@Onmysheet yeah liked that one
Just watch jingle all the way
Kermode respectfully and politely SAVAGELY ANNIHILATES THIS FILM!
I almost always agree with Mr Kermode, but here it wasn't only about the film -- I felt exactly as he describes: I think Emilia Clarke is so cute I could eat her alive, and Emma Thompson is the second coming, but calling this movie a mess is being kind. It made me sad in the same way it saddened him...
Mark liked Ghostbusters because it's misogynistic not to 😋 and didn't go hard on Terminator for the same reason.
What horseshit, you dont have to scramble to try and invalidate any opinion you don't like.
I also wanted to like last Christmas, but having had surgery a week before wasn’t fun.
Last time I saw Paul Fieg, he was getting pranked with too much tuna
"Paul you know when you peel off a yogurt and there's a little water on the top...maybe that could be a movie?"
I liked it. Not perfect but I liked it. Miles above the never ending rom com Christmas movies. Michelle Yeoh’s lines were funny, the positive Christmas message, and the arc of the main character helped.
Fairytale of New York would be a better song to adapt into a film
Love everything Emma T does? I refer Mr Kermode to 'Thompson' the 1988 self titled abomination of a so called comedy show Emma T thought was funny.
Damn you! I had completely forgotten that steaming pile of television. I'm going to have to go back to therapy now.
You got Greatest Showman absolutely right. People just forgave it because they were won over by Hugh Jackman's charisma. I think you'll have got this one right too, and I'll give it a miss. Massive George Michael fans, and there are many might just enjoy it for the music, but that wouldn't be enough on its own for me. Plus as a professional musician and composer myself I was insulted at how poor the music is in the Greatest Showman. GCSE candidates can and do write better songs.
I haven't seen it but somehow I knew you wouldn't like it :)
So is the guy that she falls for dead all along? That’s what I thought when watching the trailer.
Apparently so. Last Christmas, he gave her his heart.
I don't think she gave it away the very next day, though.
this film box office was good ?
You can just tell from the trailers its horrendous. Big shame
I don't think Emma Thompson should use her characters to voice her support of Nigel Farage. When Emilia Clarke's character stroked the guy with the reindeer jumper and said "I love you almost as much as I love parliamentary sovereignty", it just felt too political.
@Litshttam No, why? I'm satirising the practise of inserting politics clumsily into the mouths of characters, not the political views themselves.
Will be giving this movie a miss. I don't watch Christmas movies to be lectured about the politics of Hollywood elites like Emma Thompson.
Fair play to mark be honest
I was surprised that he didn't sugar-coat things like he usually would with a female-driven film.
Do they only interview the actors who are in that week's dud? The Kermode Kurse strikes again!
Knew about the film for a while from someone working on it,
Was looking forward to it until I saw the Emilia with other people in the trailer. Looked way too fake and sugary and then dark and not in a dark comedy way.
Drink every time kermode says incidentally
George Michael deserved better.
I disagree on his opinion of Ghostbusters (it was a bad movie) but otherwise it was alright.
When I first saw the clip I knew the movie isn't any good. The cast and Emma Thompson only did it for the money, and there's nothing wrong with doing movies like this, they've got to earn a living.
What I wanted was an eyeful of Christmas in London. I'm American and have lived in New Zealand for years, so I miss the northern Christmas and this movie gave me some. Otherwise, it was a stinker in spite of charming actors and a few nice moments.
Naff Actually
Hallmark makes better Christmas movies.
hilarious joke; no,they do not. The people in this movie talk like real humans do, and they can also act. Hallmark movies do not do either of those things.
Mark didn't get the greatest showman wrong.
Love a trashy contrived Christmas movie and Emlia Clarke is a goddess but this movie... eh
The Khalessi has been in a few duds lately. Sad.
Rolling Stone are very good at getting things wrong.
the trailer made me recoil in horror so i find this deeply unsurprising
You can tell what the bloke is in it already. He's even wearing white!
A film that's so bad featuring people who are so good.
I could see the end of this movie coming at me from the midway point. A very predictable bit of holiday rubbish. It is only made watchable due to its cast.
P.S. I actually wished that the movie were about Michelle Yeoh's romantic subplot. Whenever the film would cut back to that I smiled.
Emilia Clarke is great and Emma Thompson is an incredibly talented actress, but Last Christmas is genuinely one of the worst films I have ever seen. Every London cliche in the book, mind-numbingly dull, predictable, two dimensional, and self-indulgent. The best thing I can say for it is that I watched it during lockdown and it made me think "if this is what I'm missing, I'm actually not that bothered about a return to 'normality'".
Surprised to see Emma Thompson involved in such a cynical cash grab.
Matthew McCaul just from watching the trailer you could smell the cynicism a mile away.
This film was just so clunky and predictable that it allowed me the rare bathroom visit as I just wasn't bothered about missing anything. I normally never leave the cinema when I've paid to see a film just for fear of missing something crucial. I thought Emilia Clarke was just awful (what is that laugh?!). The fellow playing her side-kick/love interest was completely wooden as well, Emma Thompson was, well, just Emma Thompson and I felt she was using her clunky and clumsy script as a vehicle to voice her luvvy remainer tendencies....and don't get me started on Santa and her suitor! I honestly wish I could have had my money back!
Emilia Clarke is gonna be one of those lightning in a bottle actors. Game of Thrones was the lightning in a bottle.
what does lightening in a bottle mean?
@@freddiemeyer4563 One hit wonder.
And yet you still give Love Actually praise.
Love Actually is timeless and a really good movie. Yes, it’s a tad cheesy, but it works. It’s honest, funny and poignant. And Alan Rickman is sublime, god bless him.😞
Love Actually, is fantastic!
@@Simonize41 total agree.
Yeah, cos Love Actually is a great movie and this... isn't?
Emilia Clarke is a real tour de force, her improvement this past three years, world class!
Dragon! Dracarys! lol
Honestly this makes these cheesey hallmark movies to look like "It's A Wonderful Life". And when will filmmakers get that people go to the movies to forget about stuff like politics I mean a christmas movie with a lecture regarding Brexit of all things?! Got the news for that.
Title is the biggest reverse-spoiler ever.
The only disappointment of that movie was Emma Thompson's (ironically his favourite) performance portraying an East European immigrant on the levels of parody and beyond any stereotype. Maybe English star based in LA should not be playing East Europeans?
The trailer didnt spoil the reveal for me. This is one of the few times I disagree with Mark. Far too cynical review for this type of movie. It wasn't trying to be Love Actually. I think thats where he went wrong.
Saw this film earlier..absolutely shocking
Lets be clear this movie is awful and poorly made. I loved it. It has so much heart and joy at it's core it won me over. Lets start a campaign to remake it well.
I LOVE Emma Thompson and I enjoyed Last Christmas. But I can’t help but feel that all the (great) anti Brexit messages would have felt much more sincere, if the Yugoslavian mum HADN’T been played by an upper middle class British lady. I agree with Mark. Its heart is in the right place, but the film just keeps giving it away.
Generosity of spirit ? What about the generosity of spirit to actually award it that one star ! Give us a break
It looks terrible, I have seen Emilia Clarke in a couple of things now and they have all been bad. I am starting to think it's her.
After the failure of the Terminator sequel and the Star Wars prequel, I can't imagine her having much of a stellar career.
The solo film was a decent action adventure film. It did badly because of a lack of promotion and it came so soon after the very disappointing last Jedi so there was a star wars back lash. I’ve not see her other films and don’t have an opinion on whether she will make it as a movie star, although I do like her as a celebrity personality.
Wrong wrong wrong! This is a great movie, everyone ive talked to love it too.
The movie has great music and a good story with good actors, but the movie was lacking something. I'd never put it in the top 300 movies list. I think he hit on something in the sense that indeed the main relationship was nonsense from the beginning as Mark Kermode brings up.
I watched it with an autistic kid who would not understand any of it. Had you given me some hot chocolate to drink while watching it, I would have said the mood was perfect. Would I see it again? Yes. I like George Michael songs and the cuteness of it, but it still sucks in overall evaluation.
This movie is only good for a date night with your girlfriend or wife, and agree with her for a nice ending to the night, but if you want me to evaluate it.
See above.
Sounds as if it's about Emma Thompson views on Brexit...don't care
I disagree with Mark on this occassion. Been a film theorist like Kermode myself, I thought it went against the normal British film 'fairytale' narrative which films like love actually and notting hill tell. I thought it was refreshing. I warmed to the characters much more than those films and it is not Americanised like these. And the film fits perfectly with George Michael's songs. Editing and cinematography is excellent also. And the mise-en-scene is nice an realistic. How can he compare this film to Mama Mia?