Last Christmas Parent Guide

Despite working in a Christmas shop in Covent Garden, Kate (Emilia Clarke) has lost any festive spirit she might have had. Spiraling into full fledged grinch-iness, she is losing herself in alcohol, casual sex, and a bottomless well of self-absorption. She’s run out of friends who are willing to lend her couch-space, she’s in a state of constant conflict with her mother and sister, and she can’t get over the emotional after-effects of a serious health crisis. Then she meets Tom (Henry Golding), a handsome stranger who treats her with empathy instead of judgment. “Look up,” he tells her. As she takes his advice, she begins to rise above her despair.

Last Christmas is a difficult film to review because it turns on a plot twist I can’t describe without ruining the show for you. I also can’t share my reaction to it for the same reason. Suffice it to say, that even though this movie sounds like a typical rom-com, it’s anything but….

Compared to standard genre fare, Last Christmas stacks up well. It’s blessed with some outstanding actors: Henry Fielding oozes goodness and sincerity and his matinee-idol good looks shine on the big screen. Emilia Clarke (and her unbelievably expressive eyebrows) project spontaneity, spunk, and enthusiasm as honestly as she portrays fear and dysfunction. Emma Thompson, however, is a disappointment. I’m a big fan of Thompson, but as she plays Kate’s Yugoslavian immigrant mother, she repeatedly slips over the line from character into caricature.

Along with generally good acting, this movie is packed full of positive messages tied up in sparkling ribbon. It’s got individual themes on the need to accept yourself and forgive others. Parents will particularly love Tom’s advice about intentional living - the belief that we become what we do each and every day, thus our every deed shapes our characters. The film also demonstrates the benefits of forgetting yourself through helping others. As Kate throws herself into helping the homeless, she renews her zest for living.

The biggest gift this film gives parents is its relative lack of negative content. Although Kate drinks heavily to deal with her painful emotions, her alcohol use is not glamorized. Most surprisingly for a rom-com, there is no explicit nudity or sexual content. Although Kate has some one night stands, no sexual activity is seen, only implied the morning after. Parents who are trying to instill lessons about sexual consent in their teens will appreciate a scene where Tom refuses to have a physical relationship with Kate because she’s had a fair bit to drink and has shared emotionally intense memories with him. He refuses to take advantage of her while she’s in a vulnerable state.

Good points aside, this isn’t a flawless film. The pacing drags at times, there are some cheesy moments, and Kate can be very unlikable before she gets her act together. Still, while Last Christmas might not be the perfect gift under the tree, it’s far better than a lump of coal.