This article is part of The Twelve Days of Doofmas, a daily series of articles on our favorite Christmas films that was released as Bonus Content leading up to Christmas Eve 2019.
This article has a full multimedia experience option. If you can, please listen to the following as you read: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8ek3rdOIRM&list=PLszXSDtRg3WBzL8fi80rOLPWHBt-htUa7.
The James Bond franchise is problematic for a number of reasons. However, for twenty years, it’s had one point on which it can undisputedly hold its head high. One accolade free from criticism. In 1999’s The World is Not Enough, Bond’s “love” interest is Denise Richards’ nuclear physicist, Christmas Jones. This strikes the viewer as an odd name for a Bond girl, and as the movie progresses viewers are left more and more confused as to the whereabouts of the double entendre in this name. It is only at the very end of the film, when Christmas and Bond finally shake the martini, that the brilliance of Christmas’ name is revealed, as Bond quips “I thought Christmas only comes once a year”.
However, I must now unfortunately let you all know that, after almost exactly 20 years, the Bond franchise has unfortunately lost it’s proudest title. Now, friends, we must look to Last Christmas, the actual topic of this article, as the undisputed champion of “over-investing in a D-tier christmas pun”.
Any good holiday movie will, at its core, explore the idea of what makes a particular holiday special. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Australia Day, Groundhog Day (which I recently learnt is an actual holiday) or indeed Christmas, something a holiday themed movie really needs to do is try and make a statement on what draws people to the day, and what makes us keep celebrating it. Viewed through this lens, it’s easy to see why Last Christmas is one of the best Christmas films ever made.
For those who haven’t seen them film, Last Christmas follows Kate, played by Emilia Clarke (who further solidifies her position as the go-to actress for getting great performances from a less-than-average script), a self-centered, self-destructive woman who rediscovers the joy in giving thanks to Tom (Henry Golding who, along with Michelle Yeoh, I think may have been cast not just for their talent, but in order to trick me into thinking this film would be as good as Crazy Rich Asians). As the film progresses, we learn more about Kate’s past illness, which is what has set her down her recent path of self destruction, and how this has also affected the relationship with her family, particularly her mother, played by Emma Thompson (Emma also wrote the script for the film, but I’m pleased to say she did a good job in her acting performance).
I’m sorry if that last paragraph came off as negative. I mean, it was, but this is where we are starting to get at the core of what makes this such a fantastic Christmas film. The writing could be called lazy, but I prefer the word safe. The plot could be called boring, but I prefer familiar. What is Christmas, or indeed any holiday at all, except something that (attempts to) bind us together in a sense of ritual togetherness. Christmas will mean different things to different people, but almost everyone can agree that it’s a time to come together.
As the film progresses, we learn more about Kate’s past illness, and at the climax are confronted by the twist that many people predicted based on the trailer alone – there is no Tom. When Kate was ill last christmas, Tom donated his heart, and now she’s throwing it away. Tom’s ghost has come to her in order to make sure he really gave his heart to someone special – by slowly reteaching Kate the fulfillment one can get from helping others. The whole movie is a pun based on a George Michael song. Incredible.
After realizing she has Fight Clubbed/Mr Robotted/Shutter Islanded most of the events of the film, Kate finally realizes the gift she has been given, and heads to the charity talent show she’s organised at the local homeless shelter, opening the show with a solo performance of… I mean, you know what song it’s going to be, right?
And it’s here that we realize why this twist unveils the perfect Christmas film – this wasn’t a romcom, despite what the movie led you to believe. It’s the journey of someone realizing how alone they have made themselves. A twist made famous in other places is used to comfortably help us realize – Christmas isn’t really about romance. It’s about bettering yourself, and opening yourself up to all the good people in your life, so that you can all support each other.
Also there’s one moment where Kate jims the camera while her mother says something racist. It has nothing to do with anything I’m talking about here, but it also has nothing to do with the tone or setup of the rest of the film it’s in so I think it’s appropriate to just call it out here.
– Elliot
