When you choose to make a film based around a holiday you run the risk of the film being bypassed once that holiday is over. Even during the holidays I had no real desire to see the film LAST CHRISTMAS. So imagine my surprise to find it one of the most delightful films I've seen in some time.
Emilia Clarke stars as Kate, a young woman living in London who works in an all year round Christmas shop dressed as an elf. Her boss is simply named Santa (Michelle Yeoh), an owner who has a habit of stocking some unusual items in her store. While working there Kate also attempts to launch a career singing in productions, auditioning for nearly any part available and never landing a role.
Kate is in the middle of a bad period in her life. Her career is going nowhere, she has no place of her own to live, counting on the kindness of her friends to put her up. But even there her luck runs bad as she doesn't take long to do something that results in her being kicked out. Her love life is on the outs as well with frequent hookups that lead to nothing more serious than a one night stand. Her relationship with her sister is one of mutual disapproval and the one with her mother is even worse.
Kate's mother (Emma Thompson who also wrote the story and produced the film) calls her by her proper name Katerina and worries about her non-stop. Much of this is due to an illness Kate had the previous year which we don't get details on until later. When all of her friends boot her out Kate has no choice but to return home to live.
Then one day something happens. She sees an attractive young man outside the shop looking up at the sky. Going out to see what he's looking at, he points out a bird to her claiming it's unusual to see this bird in the city. They talk a bit and he convinces her to walk with him later. Doing so he shows her a small alley, giving her the history of it and showing that it ends up in a small garden courtyard with benches that people can sit on.
Kate becomes infatuated with the man who she learns is named Tom (Henry Golding). He tells her he works late nights but before he goes to work they continue to spend time together. One place he lets her know he works is a mission for homeless people. When Tom doesn't show one night, she goes there looking for him only to be recruited into helping.
The relationship between Tom and Kate builds as the movie progresses but they never sleep together. He tells her he's old fashioned like that. As they spend time together things begin to change for Kate. She becomes happier. She becomes less selfish. She starts helping other people, especially at the homeless shelter. But will that happiness carry on? Will Tom be there for her forever? Will something happen that changes everything?
In spite of revealing a lot of what takes place in the film so far I'm holding back on much of it. That's because this movie did something that so few do for me these days. It surprised me. It caught me off guard. I've seen so many movies that rarely happens and when it does it make me happy to see that this is still possible.
The surprise is not all that makes me recommend this movie. It has a bright, fresh feeling to it in spite of the life that Kate lives when we first meet her. The film doesn't rely on naked bodies or four letter words to present a story of two people in love unlike most films today. Instead it harkens back to the romantic screwball comedies of the past relying on witty writing, great performances and a story that captures the heart.
Clarke is known mostly for her role in GAME OF THRONES but shows that she has so much potential to move past that into Sandra Bullock territory, a romantic lead with the ability to make you laugh as well. Golding is a surprise, having only been in six films to far, his first being CRAZY RICH ASIANS where he did an amazing job as well. Thompson is hilarious here as an immigrant fearful of everything and concerned for her children.
As I said at the start, I had no interest in this movie when it was released. I not admit that the film was a charming, refreshing change of pace that will entertain, enlighten and make you think twice about the world we live in. With music obviously written by the late George Michael used throughout, it's a movie that you should watch, in spite of Christmas having come and gone.
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