HEFE'S REVIEW OF:
THE LAST KISS (2004)

OPENING THOUGHTS

    I know, I know, it's not supposed to be Garden State 2 but a blind man in a dark room couldn't help but notice the similarities. So, would this Wisconsin based remake of an Italian movie be as good, only I hold the answer, so don't ask anyone else, because they are liars.

ACTING

    ZACH BRAFF is good, but he is always good, he just seems like a really friendly guy. He is funny, but he is also dramatic when he needs to be, but never over the top. It really feels like he is the character and not just acting, but then again maybe that is because all of his roles are exactly like his real-life personality. If that is true, it is only a matter of time before he is as exposed as an internet whore.
    CASEY AFFLECK is Ben Affleck in a little boy's mask. I have decided that I will start any thought about him with that sentence. He was good, not great, but he definitely held his own.
    RACHEL BILSON is terrible, she is awful on The O.C. and now she is awful in movies. She is not attractive, and since it is obvious she can't act I can't imagine why she has a career.
    ERIC CHRISTIAN OLSEN is awesome, I have had a soft spot for this guy since I saw him in Not Another Teen Movie. He has good comedic timing and great facial expressions. While his character was a wee more serious in this film I still think he did a good job. Although I have to say his long hair and numerous shots of his asshole were a bit off-putting.
    TOM WILKINSON was also great in this movie. I truly think he is one of the best actors out there today, but it seems like most people don't really know who he is. Hell, I didn't know who he was until a few years ago. It's like one day he was sweeping up shit in a school cafeteria and suddenly he said: "You know what, I think I will be in a movie tomorrow." Well I am glad he did, although now The Janitor has one less colleague.

DIRECTION AND SCRIPT

    TONY GOLDWYN directed this movie, and I think he did a solid job, but I would have liked to have seen more from him. Again, I know this isn't Garden State, but in that movie, the filming really added a lot to the film, evoking as much emotion as any of the characters did. Where as in this movie, well, I just felt myself.
    PAUL HAGGIS wrote this movie based on some Italian flick in which presumably the same thing happens but with more tomato sauce. I liked a lot of the dialogue and was surprised and pleased by the amount of swearing in this movie. While the actors had a lot of chemistry for the most part, I just couldn't relate with the main character. I am not just writing this because my wife will read this (I love you precious lady!) but I just don't get why Zach Braff's character was cheating on his fiancee. Yeah I get that he is scared and all that shit, but I mean he wasn't even happy doing it. I don't know I felt like the story wasn't as well developed as the dialogue, and the movie went out with a whimper instead orgasmic moan.

THE VERDICT

    You could do worse, but I would recommend Garden State over The Last Kiss, even though they are not the same movie, *wink*! The acting is solid except for Rachel Bilson, and the dialogue is entertaining enough to distract from a weak story and boring direction.
 
 

RATING: B -

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