As we lean into the holiday stretch, it’s time for our annual spread of Christmas movies, and the 2019 campaign is off to a solid start with “Last Christmas”, a film that will get you into the spirit of the holidays with a pleasant story and a funny cast.
Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones), stars as Kate, an aspiring singer that works as an elf in a Christmas store, who’s careless behavior and troubled past often renders her homeless before she’s forced to return home to her overbearing mother. When she meets the carefree Tom played by Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians), Kate tries to get her life together with the hope that she can make Christmas better for everyone.
We finally get to see Clarke’s potential in a role that doesn’t involve fighting ice demons on the back of a dragon, and she’s does a fine job pulling the story together and at times just being plain adorable. We also a get Emma Thompson and Michelle Yeoh in some great supporting roles and a Christmas story that isn’t completely predictable.
The material might not be strong enough to convert the stooges and it’s not exactly going to be a Christmas classic, but “Last Christmas” is certainly good enough to land in the regular rotation of a holiday audience that just wants to feel good. Director Paul Feig keeps the action rolling and Christmas in the streets of London sure looks like a lot of fun.
If you’re looking a just plain nice Christmas movie outing (with a pretty decent George Michael soundtrack), then check it out.
Last Christmas
GRADE: B
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1hr 42 minutes.
