Last Christmas (2019)

Wham's Last Christmas is one of my all time favourite Christmas song and I believe that is the same for many people. When I read about a new film named after this song is to be made starring Game of Thrones' Dragon Mother Emilia Clarke, and Crazy Rich Asian's Malaysian born Henry Golding, I have to admit that I was felt a bit skeptical. Wham's song is sacred and to make a movie after it, it better be damn good and do justice to the song.

Alas my doubts were justified. The movie was painful to watch with its cringeworthy script ridden with unnatural and forced humour, and actors who probably gave their personal worst performances. I still cannot believe they can screw up so badly with a stellar cast in hand which the usually more reliable Emma Thompson and Michelle Yeoh, both of whom were made to look and act like fools in this movie. Plus they had the benefit of making use of a vast library of Wham and George Michael's songs to potentially create another "Mamma Mia" style musical. As it is, many of the songs were played randomly with little purpose or relation to the storyline. At least the ending credit song, the previously unreleased "This Is How We Want You To Get High" was a pleasant surprise and great way to end the show.

The story's twist ending is probably the only thing that I found redeeming in the whole project. It almost makes me want to forgive and forget all the movie's shortcomings but then it failed to sustain and capitalised on its impact by having Emilia Clarke perform a terrible version of Last Christmas instead of playing Wham's original song. I cannot help feeling that under the hands of another director, this whole movie would been so much better. This is a bit of a surprise because director Paul Feig's last movie, the comedy crime caper A Simple Favor with Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively and Henry Golding (again), was much better and entertaining. Perhaps what is lacking here is a more sensitive and romantic touch which Paul sadly lacks.