The Last Kiss
The Last Kiss may as well be a sequel to Zach Braff's writing and directorial debut, Garden State. Not only do Braff's characters in each seem to be virtually interchangeable (save for a few of the addressed nuances of each characters' various psychoses), but in the grand tradition of sequels, this 'follow-up' completely pales in comparison to its predecessor. The themes, characters and overall feel of the movies seem sewn from the same cloth, but The Last Kiss just doesn't share the cut of Garden State's jib.
Based on an Italian film, L'Ultimo Bacio, created by Gabriele Muccino, the director of The Pursuit of Happyness, The Last Kiss sheds some light on the cold feet curse supposedly suffered by so many a thirty-something fellow. In turn, so many a thirty-something gal ends up suffering even more. In this case, the anguished man-child is Michael (Braff) and his burdened betrothed-to-be, Jenna (Jacinda Barrett). Michael lives the bud of the American dream: the early signs of a successful career, the relationship with a beautiful and intelligent woman and the beginnings of his own personal stash of small fries, as we find Jenna announcing her pregnancy at the start of the film. However, Michael's pending papa-hood does not thrill him but, instead, threatens him with a swift jump over from the edge of contented complacency to the depths of enduring dullness. Or, as his character puts it, his life is starting to feel "pretty planned out. There's no more surprises."
The film moves forward through its obvious storyline: Michael meets college cutie Kim, played plainly by Rachel Bilson, and it becomes apparent that some part of him (you can guess the part) believes that she is the surprise he has been missing. As he pursues this opportunity, viewers must suffer through Michael's obviously bad choices and grasping at of desperate straws. The only sign that screenplay scriptwriter Paul Haggis (Crash) had any part of this one is in the mixing and meshing of multiple storylines into the plot. Unfortunately, not even the main storyline is that special and the added ones are just superfluous.
Because The Last Kiss seemed so suspiciously lacking in any special qualities, I just kept waiting for some power-packing ending that would at least give me something to savor. Instead, the finale was most certainly not grand and really just kind of stupid. In director Tony Goldwyn's defense, there are some pretty scenes of Wisconsin thrown in that should make the state's tourism board proud.
However, what once I thought of as Zach Braff's amusing mug slowly turned into what I now observe as his cad-like countenance. No one should have to suffer through that annoying smirk of his with only the reward of pretty pictures of the Great Lakes glory.
Grades
Overall: C+
Story: C-
Acting: C+
Visuals: B
Originality/Innovation: C
Enjoyability: C+
DVD/Extras: C
|
