This is a dramatic piece originally written and directed by Gabriele Muccino under the title "The Last Kiss" (2001). A blockbuster in Italy and a much more intense and revealing experience than this Hollywood counterpart by Tony Goldwyn, who seems to have a penchant for appropriating scripts (million dollar baby and Crash) and legitimizing the depth that is therein displayed. Needless to say in this adaptation however direct transliteral carbon-copy may be a more accurate description something is lost. The cultural translation works only within a limited dress, disguising inability to commit with what may be "existential angst" in full swing. The Italian version adds intensity where the DreamWorks production carries a blunt tenderness, neither convincing nor endearing, but always aptly dramatized. The casting is excellent as we've come to expect of all of Tricia Wood's engagements, with Zach Braff and Jacinta Barrett and Rachel Bilson in leading roles supported with a surplus of talent in minor agents of definite weight.This movie is well-constructed and racy in an intellectual and sensual sense. What happened to the screams into the void, the cries for more and the desperation for meaning that afflicted the characters in "L'Ultimo Bacio" and seems to be an afterthought in a redrafted tale about the fragility of the psyche and the crass expectations we feel obliged to meet and rejoice within.
Something is lost in the translation, but the undercurrents are aflowing with enough force to warrant watching and perhaps even comparing. If you are verging on 30 and thinking about getting married you'll end up getting stuck in a nostalgic disoriented displaced mood. If you are a woman you'll wonder why the male presence overarches the female roles, with the answer being a cultural one. In Italy this is a "Guy-flick". In other words: a night out with the guys so as to vent, let go and recharge, similar to the much maligned chick-flick category, but more of a phenomena with depth of extra human proportions. Not possible in the US (I apologize for the generalizing vein I force here).
To make it simple for the simple "if you liked Garden State you'll love The Last Kiss." If you are not afraid of pinching the reflective chords within so as to stir the inevitable emotional instability we must confront on occasions lest we just follow the crowd and get lost in the shuffle, then watch it and enjoy, or better yet buy the original version (on sale on Amazon too) and challenge your intellectual sensibilities in an honest commercial effort, satisfactory and satisfying.
A paragraph for the character of Jenna (played by Jacinda Barrett). Wow, the portrayal is just so amazing and real, my wife and I were both affected very much by it (my wife was in tears in the first Chris/Jenna confrontation and then of course the Michael/Jenna immediately after). The acting was the most honest I've ever seen a female actor allow themselves to go to. I saw some comments about the physicality of Jenna's character, personally it was spot on, my wife would certainly push/smack/slap me if I'd behaved even close to the Michael character. This could be direction as well as Jacinda of course. If so, very nice Tony.
Great movie overall, excellent casting and I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I did not find it depressing at all, which is a word I've heard associated with the movie often. The movie may be depressing for those under 20ish, but that is only because they've yet to experience just how factual and honest the movie actually is. It's not depressing, it's real life.Relationships are evaluated, endured, cursed and celebrated in this fast paced saga about friendship, love and commitment. I originally thought it was going to be a light hearted movie but was pleassntly surprised to find it a movie of real subtance. The characters are realistic and the emotion portrayed is believable. Although intense at times the characters demonstrate the angst and joy of life and love with another person. I found one of the lines especailly profound and have never heard anything expressed so honestly before. "Everbody says they love someone but what they feel really only matters to them. It's what they DO to the people they say they love is what really counts." Case point. End of story. I recommend this movie to those who are not afraid of real emotion. It is moving and they kind of movie that can effect your life in a positive way and stay with you a long time.
Read Best Reviews of The Last Kiss Here
I saw the orignal Italian version of this movie and I hated it. Everything just seemed to fall flat. I never hated characters so much. I decided to give the remake a chance because I am so enthrawled with Zach Braff. I think when you hear 'Zach Braff' you automatically think 'funny' so people were disappointed with the overall tone of the movie. It isn't a romantic comedy. It is about the complexities of love and realizing that you are no longer a kid. Zach Braff proves he is so versatile and talented in every role. Jacinda Barrett was okay. I think they could have found someone better for this role. It was just easier to sympathize with Braff's character instead. (I heard that Rachel McAdams was considered for this role and I think she would have been amazing.)Anyway this is a great movie but don't expect big laughs. The soundtrack is really good too! I have to say that this film ranks among other romantic dramas that are realistic, that, instead of trying for the angst of courtship and happiness of ever after, depicts fallible human beings who make mistakes, who prosper and fail, who try and give up. It's definitely in the same vein as Garden State. By showing relationships in different stages, this movie points out the difficulties one faces when in a pair and the sacrificies one must make for either a partner or child. Much like Garden State, it provides an almost philosophy in the film, gives great quote after great quote, and, though it wraps up the storylines, doesn't necessarily give that swelling of orchestra happy ending that most romantic comedies do.***Spoilers***
However, what I wanted to say here and in particular in response to a previous review by Forrester, the portrayal of women in this film does certainly fall in line with the traditional "female" role but not necessarily real women. While I may be the commitmentphobe and therefore empathized with Braff until his indiscretion, let it be stated that not all women are ditzy college girls desperately running after taken men or baby seeking marriage craving women.
Furthermore, one can empathize with Affleck's wife in the film. While both certainly need marriage counseling, her behavior is not so crazy given the possibility for post partem and the very real experience of no longer being a person but instead being a mother. Staying at home with the kids is not the bon bon eating, soap opera watching experience some would paint it is. While Affleck certainly did not deserve to be constantly castigated and should have been given a chance to be a father, let's not denigrate the role of women as mothers or generalize all new mothers to be "insane" or "unreasonable."
Thus, despite my quibbles with the female portrayal, I take the film as an adequate and realistic portrayal of issues many deal with in their twenties as that big 3-0 approaches, whether it's babymaking and ring swapping or simply dealing with the notion of "forever" and mortality.
GREAT MOVIE!!!
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