MEAGAN MAXWELL
Staff Writer
While the trailer for the movie “The Last Kiss” built up audience expectations, high hopes were trampled down piece by piece until they disappeared completely by the end of the movie. Between the stereotypical characters — such as the commonly portrayed man afraid to commit, the tempting younger woman and the plight of an extremely early mid life crisis — the story had little to offer.
Although the original 2001 Italian version “L’Ultimo bacio,” received a fair amount of recognition and awards in Italy, the United States version did not seem to reach a standard of deserving that kind of positive recognition.
The film focuses on the lives of a group of 30-something-year-old friends in Wisconsin who suddenly realize they have to face the possibility of “growing up” and deal with their situations. One friend is coping with a hard breakup, another is dodging any kind of commitment and one is realizing that he does not love his demanding wife.
The story centers on Zach Braff’s character, Michael, who seems deeply in love with his girlfriend Jenna (Jacinda Barrett). They come across as the perfect, storybook lovers who seem to live only for each other. They appear so perfect and happy that they even invoke jealousy from Jenna’s mother, Anna (Blythe Danner). The passionate couple have even more to celebrate when they find out that there is going to be an addition to their relationship: a baby. After presenting the news to Jenna’s parents, the “M word” (marriage) is mentioned and Michael tenses up.
Braff’s character is not willing to give up the freedom he has as a bachelor. It is as if he is trying to figure out if love is a good enough reason to sacrifice a part of oneself.
In the midst of this confusion enters the young, brunette, college sophomore Kim (Rachel Bilson), who only adds to Michael’s growing doubt. Her persistent flirtation leads Michael down a dangerous path that threatens to ruin the one good thing in his life: Jenna.
Braff played his character well as he has had practice with this type of character before, namely in “Garden State” when he played the role of a lost and confused guy in his 20s. In “The Last Kiss” the character is older, but none the wiser. Braff’s charms, such as pauses in his speech and the use of his eyes to communicate (sometimes humorously), proved affective in getting the audience on his side despite the heartlessness of the character’s actions. However, Braff’s charm was not enough to make up for shallow nature of the story.
Moviegoers are better off spending their money on the film’s soundtrack than a ticket. As with “Garden State,” the soundtrack is superb, featuring music by artists such as “Snow Patrol,” “Coldplay,” “Fiona Apple,” “Remy Zero” and “Amiee Mann.”
“The Last Kiss” is nothing but typical and fails to capture the interest of a viewer who has been there and done that, and expects more from an actor like Braff who usually pushes the envelope. One should not feel bad being the last person to see “The Last Kiss.”
09-21-2006
