The Last Shift (2020) User Reviews (64)

not a comedy

[georgio-26490 · 5/10 · 13 January 2021]

There was nothing, absolutely nothing in this film that could be classed as funny. it was a very realistic look at the working class man, and the problems troubled kids face. it was a good movie, very touching, great acting and pulled at my heartstrings.

it had a start and a middle then the credits rolled, if it was an episode of a series youd be interested to watch the next episode.

The race thing is so old and played-out, but

[michael-chesser-906-654605 · 7/10 · 27 September 2020]

This story was written with a quill (or disposable Bic) not a sledge hammer. While it has the predictable white = bad, black = good thing happening, the story is actually new (to me, on film). Growing up, going through my first part-time jobs, I always ran into older people who unaccountably had the same responsibilities as I did. I didn't necessarily pity them, but I was curious about them. This film gives "that guy" some dimension, a life. I also like that the younger character can get in cross-ways with the law without being a thug. That's probably a lot more common than we know. It's not a story to change your life, but it is a thoughtful piece all the same.

Decent Film

[Draysan-Jennings · 6/10 · 24 December 2020]

Richard Jenkins was great, he nailed this role. This film won't get him an Oscar but based on his performance you should give it a watch. As far as the movie goes, it was nothing really over the top or spectacular. Just a simple film with a decent story and good acting. 6 stars.

A little disappointing

[Gordon-11 · 6 January 2021]

I expected more bonding between the two, and the story to be more touching. I didn't really get either. I'm a little disappointed by it.

No real ending!

[rockon15 · 6/10 · 24 December 2020]

The movie is actually a pretty good drama however it did not have an ending even though the credits rolled. Left me very unsatisfied.

Great Premise and Presentation Until the Non-ending.

[newhopes · 3/10 · 17 December 2023]

Everything about this movie was first class! The acting, dialogues and subject matter were all beautifully done and compelling. However I am sick of these pseudo intellectual non-endings. What I can only assume is meant to be artsy and thought provoking is actually a recipe for frustration and a sense that "I just wasted an hour and a half of my life". I think it's lazy and disrespectful to the audience. I don't need sunshine and rainbows at the ending of a movie (or book). I do, however want to walk away with some sense of satisfaction. When it come to experiencing open ended stories-day in and day out-that's life.

Just end your freakin' movies!

Slow but good

[falleralla · 7/10 · 2 January 2021]

A film with many different layers. What is fair? Is the American dream possible to realize for people on the bottom? The movie contains some laughter but I wouldn't call it funny. Still worth watching because of the good acting and clever use of a low budget.

Some of us have jobs

[nogodnomasters · 5/10 · 13 December 2020]

In the rust belt, Stanley (Richard Jenkins) works at Oscar's Chicken and Fish. He has done so for 38 years. He didn't graduate the class of 1971, but wears the ring as if he did. He has saved up so he can buy a car and drive to Florida so he can take his mother out of a nursing home. He has given noticed but must first train Javon (Shane Paul McGhie) who is on parole. There is a generational and racial difference that we see, but the two are both wage slaves to the system.

The film was timely, but not hard hitting. It shows the nuances of racial divides as it pertains to a common class and educational struggle. No real climax.

Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.

Jevon's son

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 3 February 2022]

Stanley (Richard Jenkins) has been working for 38 years at the same fast food restaurant in a small Michigan town. Her manager Shazz (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) assigns him to train Jevon (Shane Paul McGhie) for the night shift. Jevon's on parole and Evelyn (Allison Tolman) is his parole officer. Dale (Ed O'Neill) is Stanley's friend.

I need to like Jevon more especially in the beginning. Initially, I like Stanley but Jevon annoyed me. There is one defining characteristic difference between the two. Nothing showcases that more than their family responsibility. Stanley is horribly concerned about his mother in the retirement home but Jevon couldn't care less about his son. It would be very helpful if Jevon starts as a caring father. His writer's block would be more compelling. As it stands, I don't care about his difficulties. There is a switch in the middle which is interesting but the consequences would be more compelling if Jevon holds more rooting interest. All in all, these are great actors and these everyday characters are somewhat intriguing. Jevon's bitterness and irresponsibility are hurdles to truly getting involved with these characters.

Might be Richard Jenkins last shift

[TheCasualReviewer · 5/10 · 17 November 2020]

SYNOPSIS: It's Stanley's (Richard Jenkins) last week at his fast food job and he's stuck training a young rebellious kid to take over his job.

REVIEW: This film strikes me as someone having an excess of money and so they paid big to one well-respected actor and paid big to have it play in theaters. I say this because although I didn't hate the time I spent watching the film, I just sat there and thought of how pointless the film was. There were a couple moments that the film was grasping at a point, but it fell flat. It felt like there was an arc to be made with both of the characters, but nothing came of it. I mean, how much of a change can you make within a week?

If you're looking for something to have in the background that you don't need to pay attention to while you do other things, this is the one. It's a background film. 5/10.

State of the Nation

[gsygsy · 8/10 · 3 January 2021]

Astute observational indie about two guys who are stuck. Neither can admit that anyone is worse off, on a lower rung of America's economic ladder. They find themselves working together at a slow fast-food drive-through in a town that's been left behind. The elder of the two -- played with almost painful truthfulness by Richard Jenkins -- is a crumbling white guy who has been serving up low-nutrition burgers and fries for 38 years and thinks he's looking forward to his last shift. His trainee is a gifted young black man -- skilfully presented by Shane Paul McGhie as a charmer with a chip on his shoulder -- whose intelligence can't save him from the consequences of his resentment.

Written and directed with skill and sensitivity by documentarian Andrew Cohn, this is an understated state-of-the-nation piece that makes its points without ever resorting to polemic.

Richard Jenkins steals the show

[dylanramirez · 7/10 · 30 December 2020]

It was okay it kept me interested in the two main leads and is worth a watch just for Richard Jenkins performance and character.

********SPOILERS********



The character of Stanley is such a loser and made me hate him and not feel bad for him in the end. He got everything he deserved.

Ahh so that's why it's got a bad rating then.

[johnmagee-56614 · 1/10 · 14 May 2021]

I couldn't believe the ratings where so low as the actors where fantastic in it. But after it ended I realized nothing actually happenes in this film. It could have been a gooden but unfortunately it was a big flop. In saying that the young lead is a fantastic actor and looks set for bigger things. Such a waste of such good acting talent.

Slowburning and somewhat tedious portrait of an old diner run by an old man.

[imseeg · 6/10 · 21 October 2021]

The bad: probably only suited for a senior audience, who doesnt mind the slow (sometimes tedious) pace of this movie. Nothing much happens in this movie, painting a portrait of a washed up nightshift employee of an old diner, with very few customers left. Kinda depressing to watch, without any spark or punch...

Not any good? Richard Jenkins is great at his role. The feel of this movie is endearing and kinda sweet. I didnt get irritated, only somewhat bored.

In the end I would not recommend it, because despite the good acting and despite the attention for detail, this movie is a sleeping pill.

very true, authentic , sometime ironic, "Dostoyevsky"-alike, art-house styled, though.

[bondbuster · 6/10 · 13 January 2021]

I acclame this particular script, film and mark-up the director's work. i say ,hey, keep it up doing great job! this director will grow to become Jim Jarmusch caliber pro overtime, imho.(couple grades left to skip). All staff performed quite earnestly. A row of every-day life issues discussed honestly , yet all put consequtively simply, with no hype , no political censorship, no cynisism, no snobism.No fx, only pure ideas depicted with theatrical play.

This Film falls a little short and gas unfinished business

[mypetpeeveisyou · 5/10 · 21 April 2021]

I was fairly engaged throughout the movie thinking that there would be some resolution. Stanley going back to get his diploma, admitting he took the money, having some closure with Jevon. There was no follow through. Also they bought up this incident from 38 years ago and it puttered out. I was left wondering what the purpose of this film was.

What a disappointment...

[helenahandbasket-93734 · 10 July 2021]

As soon as this became available on Prime, I was giddy. I've been waiting for this for what seems like an eternity, and couldn't wait to sit down and enjoy this on a Friday night.

I've long been a fan of Richard Jenkins- since the first time I watched him in Witches of Eastwick, and fell in love with his dry delivery, and his ability to make even the most mundane things seem monumental. Every episode of Six Feet Under that featured Nate Sr was such a treat for an already exceptional show.

That being said, this is so far away from what I'd expect from him, and I wonder if it was due to needing a paycheck, or some piece of blackmail that was dangled to convince him to take part in this absolute train wreck of a feature film. The director should be ashamed of himself for his abysmal effort and taking some pretty stellar actors and making them into a grade school theater production.

Just a miserable film that I cannot express adequately enough in print how abominable this is. Save yourself the time.

A not very funny 'Clerks'!

[NestorTheGreat · 6/10 · 12 March 2023]

A not very funny 'Clerks' with older gents and a bunch of social issues too long to list. The dramas come thick and fast in the day of the life of a fast food worker as his life and plans come crashing down around him, with a little nudge from the replacement he's training. Having done the same menial tasks for way too long, Stanley has grown attached to the minimum wage job. Heads butt when Jevon stirs thoughts and memories in Stan that leads to a series of unfortunate events.

A good format of skipping from one character's background to another's while also following the main, my man Stan. It provides a sense of comprehension when jarring opinions come unexpectedly from one or the other. The filmmakers don't force us to choose a side, but instead to just mellow in the blurr of beliefs and ideals this film stirs up.

It also brings up a number of moral questions. And as with any dilemma in life, one's choice in that exact moment is unique: somebody else or at another time in your own life, and that choice and its outcomes will differ. This film does not ask "what would you have done?" in those circumstances, but asks you to empathise with their good or bad choices.

Jenkins good, the rest is garbage

[Zedyeti · 2/10 · 6 June 2021]

Story is all over the place and there is no comedy. It's depressing. I'm pretty sure Jenkins was doing someone a favor by being in this. What was the overall point? Cram as many different personalities and perspectives together and hope it creates amazing dialogue? Fail.

Last Shift

[johnnyhbtvs27 · 7/10 · 28 August 2021]

Absolute phenomenal performance from Richard Jenkins, good movie with great central performances.

Good Actors But Rambling Script

[stevendbeard · 4/10 · 26 September 2020]

I saw "The Last Shift", starring Richard Jenkins-The Shape of Water, White House Down; Shane Paul McGhie-Deputy_tv, What Men Want; Allison Tolman-Fargo_tv, Krampus and Ed O'Neill-Modern Family_tv, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. This is a lame comedy/drama with some good actors but a rambling script. Richard works at a fast food joint and has decided that it is time to retire-he has been there for 38 years. Shane is on probation and gets offered the job of being Richard's replacement, in order to stay out of jail. Allison is Shane's parole officer and Ed is Richard's long time friend. I said this was a lame comedy because it's not that funny and it has lots of sub plots that go nowhere. It's rated "R" for language and drug use and has a running time of 1 hour & 30 minutes. I wouldn't buy this one on DVD. If you really want to see it, you should wait until it comes to basic cable tv.

Jenkins is Amazing

[Kevin-Carmony · 8/10 · 25 September 2020]

A slow burn but enjoyable throughout. Jenkins proves why he is one of the best actors out there. Bravo! Stellar performance by the full cast as well.

Tone Shift

[mdstudio-75425 · 6/10 · 14 January 2024]

This is a character study of two different demographics, namely elderly white and youthful black. The acting is of such high caliber that I couldn't see this rather minor story having any impact whatsoever without them. Richard Jenkins is one of the most talented and versatile contemporary actors working today and that's not to diminish the rest of the cast. The actors are pros that have a rapport that translates well on screen. The problem with this film is that it seems to lose its identity at some point. It starts out rather darkly comedic based on the interplay of the two leads that are destined to be fast food workers and then takes an even darker dramatic turn that upsets the established premise rather than enhancing it. If the core of the screenplay is ultimately about race relations, then the arc of the story provides no relief or redemption in that regard, which is probably what the director intended. I feel as though I'm being taught a lesson that I'm not even very clear on, masked in an alleged entertainment venue. An ending that puts the viewer off balance can be powerful, however in this case, it's simply unsatisfying. The lure of this film is in the power of its actors.

No message

[Freethinker_Atheist · 2/10 · 3 February 2022]

If it at least had more than just one or two funny moments, I could forgive all its flaws. Yet, not only is this movie not funny but also it has no (positive) message. The two do not even become friends. So, we are left only with the portrayal of two sad lives, which gives the movie a depressing tone.

Two stars for the two main characters being good actors.

An indie worth a watch thanks to Richard Jenkins lead turn

[eddie_baggins · 6/10 · 18 July 2023]

A small film in scale and power, Andrew Cohn's The Last Shift made a very minor impact upon initial release, with streaming kingpin Netflix giving this character driven and social commentary inspired dramedy a larger platform to find viewers but despite its failure to stand out from the pack in a meaningful way, Cohn's film is another showcase for the understated and underappreciated work of industry veteran Richard Jenkins.

Following the exploits of Jenkin's long standing fast good worker Stanley and his uneasy relationship with Shane Paul McGhie's new employee Jevon, who is an African American dealing with a troubled life and an inconsiderate society that shakes up Stanley's routine in the final stages of his long time coming final shift before retirement, The Last Shift is a familiar feeling topical feature that doesn't always head in the directions you expect with Jenkins delivering one of his best turns in years to become the films trump card.

A standout over recent decades in the likes of The Shape of Water, The Visitor, Let Me In and Bone Tomahawk, Jenkins is rarely given the chance to be the lead presence in a film that lives and dies off his work but the well-respected supporting actor is wonderfully attuned to his character here as the sad and sorry Stanley tries too come to terms with his soon to be new way of life, an understanding of the plight of Jevon and the fact his lived a life that is far from fully realised.

While well supported by the up and coming McGhie, Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Stanley's manager Shazz and the rarely sighted these days Ed O'Neill as Stanley's only real friend Dale, The Last Shift really is the Jenkins show and without him this quiet little character study wouldn't be worth the order, even if it is nice to see a narrative of this type with this particular message not just play out the two diverse races learning to become best friends theme that has driven a lot of similar films of this ilk in the past.

Considering The Last Shift is available too many film fans thanks to Netflix's large catalogue of titles that has many offering both great and small, while you're not going to be singing the praises of Cohn's film from the top of the rooftops, there's a gentle and enjoyable nature to what's on display here and there's little to lose in giving this intimate character study a chance.

Final Say -

Far from revelatory in any way, shape or form, The Last Shift may not be a knockout indie but it's a solid character driven feature that provides a rare chance to once more see Richard Jenkins get a rare chance to hog the limelight.

3 frozen burger patties out of 5

Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)