Austinist Finally Reviews The Last Kiss

All the situations we’ve listed above aren't very interesting.  You see, that men are commitophobes isn't some earth-shattering discovery -- the theme could be covered easily in an episode of Two and a Half Men. A t most, a two-parter.  The most interesting subplot in the film occurs between Jenna's parents, played by Blythe Danner and Tom Wilkinson (who, by the way, is slowly turning into the older, stouter Liam Neeson, which is a compliment).  After thirty years of matrimony, the marriage starts to unravel as the passion between the two begins to fade.  But since nobody really wants to watch geriatric relations (unless they star Steve Guttenberg), we're stuck with Michael and his "problems."

Boo hoo. 

Directed by Tony Goldwyn, The Last Kiss was based on an Italian film of similar name called "L'Ultimo Bacio."  Goldwyn does an even-handed job, even if his choice in music revisited much of Garden State (possibly a Braff influence).  Regardless, good for you, Tony!  You've come a long way since getting killed by that plate of glass in Ghost.  Paul Haggis, who "wrote" The Last Kiss, won the Oscar for saying that racism is bad in Crash and then did a cameo on Entourage that was about 1/100th as cool as James Cameron's.  Perhaps you should've kept doing Facts of Life, Paul.

Ultimately, the real issue with The Last Kiss is that it really cheats the women in the film.  The idea of "fear of commitment" isn't monopolized by men, nor does the theme of quarter-life crises affect only the XY-carrying constituents of today's disillusioned young adults.  Except for Jenna's mother, every woman in this film is weak, underdeveloped, stupid, or all of the above.  Jenna almost escapes this, but her character seems so mature, so forgiving, and so perfect that you just don't believe her nonsensical actions.  Clearly, the character was underwritten, but kudos to Miss Barrett for trying to act her heart out.  The Last Kiss is a flawed movie with flawed characters.  But the soundtrack? Wow.  We’re going to listen to it while we update our MySpace blog.