THE LAST KISS
US, 2006, 104 minutes, Colour.
Zack Braff, Jacinda Barrett, Casey Affleck, Rachel Billson, Michael Weston, Eric Christian Olsen, Marley Shelton, Harold Ramis, Blythe Danner, Tom Wilkinson.
Directed by Tony Goldwyn.
One way of beginning a review of The Last Kiss (an adaptation and remake of an Italian film of the same name, directed by Gabriele Muccino, 2001) is to note the archly critical comments by older reviewers. They were clearly impatient with the main characters who are all nearing thirty and are experiencing pre-midlife crises. The implication is that they should not be so irritatingly immature. While that may be a worthy cause to pursue, it is not particularly realistic. Each generation has to make its own mistakes.
Which is what The Last Kiss is about.
Zach Braff, who has impressed TV fans with Scrubs and film fans with Garden State, is the focal character. Scared of marriage but seemingly devoted in commitment to his girlfriend (Jacinda Barrett), he discovers that she is pregnant. His best friends are not that much help. One (Casey Affleck) is a nice man whose wife, tired with their new baby, is driving him mad; another is a serial womaniser (Eric Christian Olsen); the other is a sad sack (Michael Weston) who (desperately) won’t accept the break-up with his girlfriend. The latter’s solution is to go on a caravan trek to Tierra del Fuego with the friend-about-town.
The pregnancy has a deeper effect on our hero than he realises and when a college student (Rachel Bilson) flirts with him and is prepared to go all the way, he… Well, that would spoil the ending and the resolution.
In the background, his girlfriend’s parents are having a crisis of their own after thirty years of marriage (Blythe Danner and Tom Wilkinson).
The effect of a presumed affair has a devastating effect on the pregnant girlfriend. She feels so deeply betrayed that it seems that there could be no possibility of forgiveness or reconciliation. What can an offender do to atone?
Actually, answers to these questions are offered. One hopes that this makes an impact on audiences who are the same age as the protagonists and creates a little more understanding and tolerance from those who have been through these crises and now observe from a point of detachment and superiority.
1. Romantic comedy? With serious undertones? For 20 and 30 somethings?
2. The American locations, the American city? A remake of an Italian film?
3. Title, Jenna’s explanation about the death of her grandmother? Themes of love, commitment, marriage, children?
4. Michael and Jenna, their age, living together, the pregnancy? His work, the office, his friends? Her writing her dissertation? The parents, the pressure? Michael and his doubts?
5. Michael going to the wedding, the encounter with Kim, confiding in her about himself and Jenna? The response, flirting? Michael and his being faithful to Jenna? Kim giving him her information? His visit, the party?
6. Michael deceiving Jenna, using Chris as his cover? Chris’s reaction, his own personal crises and breakup? Michael and not telling the truth?
7. Michael and Kim at the party, the kiss, going to her room? Michael and his sense of guilt, remaining faithful?
8. Izzy, pining for his former girlfriend? The funeral?
9. Kenny, the womanising? Their support for Michael?
10. The death, the gathering, Michael being found out? Chris remaining silent?
11. Jenna, the confrontation, the knife, ousting him?
12. Michael going to Kim, the sexual encounter, his leading, her having the keys? His reaction? Her reaction?
13. Stephen, his relationship with his wife, problems? His talking to Michael, urging him to tell the truth? His telling the truth about each of the encounters with Kim, Jenna and her anger?
14. Michael, ousted, keeping vigil, the days, friends giving him drinks, Stephen proud that he had told the truth?
15. The days going past, Jenna and beginning to relent, talking, her explanation of the kiss? Opening the door?
