Release Date: September 15, 2006
Let me begin with a statement that may come as a surprise: The Last Kiss was not written, nor was it directed by Zach Braff. I understand that this will be difficult for many to accept; the film has that Braff charm and it feels eerily like Garden State 2. But alas, Braff may be the guy whose face made it to the poster, but this is not completely his film. In fact, The Last Kiss was directed by actor turned director Tony Goldwyn (the bad guy from Ghost) and written by the ever busy Paul Haggis, you remember him, right? He is the guy who has cleaned house at a small awards ceremony known as the Academy Awards over the past few years.
And while the film is not completely his baby, Braff is excellent as the very conflicted, can’t figure out which way to go unlikely hero type named Michael. He is about to have a baby with a woman that he loves (Jacinda Barrett) while being pursued by a woman that he wants (Rachel Bilson). And with the relationships of his friends all falling apart around him, he is forced to decide what he wants to do with his life, and ultimately whether or not he is ready to become an adult. It is something that we have seen before, yes; but it is also something to which so many of us can relate.
And therein lies the charm in this film, I caught myself multiple times while viewing it saying to myself “Man, these are my friends. Oh dear, that is me.” It is as if it tells the story of an entire generation of people whose lives get consumed with marriage and adulthood well before their parents had to deal with it. The story, as easily as it can be predicted, is very sincere and endearing. Paul Haggis’ ability to give a film an undeniable sense of relatability continues to amaze me, just as much as Zach Braff’s portrayal of the same character from film to film continues to entertain me. Braff’s subtle wit and effortless charm have matured since the last time he played this character, giving the film enough new emotion to keep the audience locked into the story.
On top of a story that is heartfelt and relatable, there is much more to love about The Last Kiss. The soundtrack, just like Garden State, is sensational. It is lovely to see (or hear, rather) a soundtrack that sets the mood so well, especially with a film that is dominated by sharp, intelligent dialogue. It is a part of romantic comedies that is often missed, and one thing that I personally think sets a film like this apart. The audience is easily moved during moments of montage by the powerful soundtrack, filling in the moments that move the story along perfectly.
But then again, if you have seen Garden State then you could expect to get a great soundtrack, right? No, because this film is not the offspring of Garden State, I already mentioned that. But no matter what I say, the similarities are undeniable. Both films are intelligent, funny and extremely moving. That to me, is a blessing for Last Kiss, as Garden State is one of the better films I have seen in my lifetime. The Last Kiss, to me, just feels like a more mature, often sexier and ultimately more relatable version of Garden State. And that, if you are keeping score, is a very good thing.
