The Last Kiss

One danger of an actor being really good in one type of role is that everyone expects to see him do only that kind of role. Twenty years ago (or so) the thought of Robin Williams doing drama was odd. Now the idea of Robin Williams doing a movie that isn't sappy is odd. The same definately applies to Zach Braff, who's insanely fantastic as J. D. on Scrubs--you just expect him to be funny all the time. Now, anyone who watched even five minutes of Garden State learned better. But if you weren't convinced that 1. he doesn't have to be funny all the time and 2. non-funny Braff is just as good...well, that's where The Last Kiss comes in. For those who have to have funny Braff in their life, never fear...Fast Track, er, The Ex.

Anyway, this is one of the bleakest films I've seen in recent months (years?). Basically this is a story about couples--we have a circle of late 20's/early 30's friends, plus one of the friend's parents. And within the first 30 or so minutes of the film each and every couple stops being a couple (one started off no longer a couple) or the seeds are planted for them to stop being a couple. The characters are not charicatures. The conflicts are real, believable, and painful. It's hard to muster up much sympathy for most of these people (I loathed Casey Affleck's character), most of whom are only the victims of their own pettiness. There is hope in the end--and I do mean end. But even that hope doesn't present itself in typical Hollywood happily-ever-fashion, and one can't help but wonder how long it'll last following the credits.

The message seems to be that life is hard, relationships are harder. Love hurts. Love hurts a lot. And there's not much you can do about it.

The performances are compelling--which is saying something when you stop and think that 2 main characters come from Scrubs and The OC. The script, directing, music, everything was well, well done. Wonderfully made movie. But on the whole, it's a movie I wouldn't want to watch again--and am not so sure how much I wanted to the first time. It's like a big piece of liver presented in a way to make Iron Chef America judges swoon.

An aside: The most important thing I carried away from this film was something to do with another movie. I've never seen Casey Affleck do much before. Now I have. He is so not Patrick Kenzie. Nor do I think he's capable of getting it. Bad casting. Bad grasp of the character on the director/writer's part. Questionable director in the first place. This cannot be good for Gone Baby, Gone a novel that deserves so, so much more.