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    The Last Word

    Reviewed by
    adamwatchesmovies@

    “The Last Word” is not a big film, it also succumbs to a number of clichés, but I nevertheless found myself enjoying it.

     Spoiler alert - click to reveal textAfter attempting suicide, retired businesswoman Harriett Lauler (Shirley MacLaine), realizes that her obituary will contain no loving words from her family, friends or co-workers; that she won’t be missed. Harriett proceeds to strongarm the obituary writer at the local newspaper (Amanda Seyfried as Anne) into ensuring that she’ll leave her mark behind.

    While discussing “The Lego Batman Movie” a while back, the subject of characters changing over the course of a movie came up. The point was made that if a protagonist starts off as a jerk, they often get less interesting as the film progresses. Standard stories will typically have them change into a well-rounded, responsible people. I agree. When you first meet Harriett, she’s thoroughly unlikable. She’s obsessive, rude, stubborn and controlling. You hate her, but she's nonetheless compelling. For the most part, she doesn’t really change, she simply softens as the movie progresses. There’s a difference. She still has plenty of outrageous, but admittedly honest things to say about the people around her, she just dials it back enough that you can stand being in the same room as her for two hours.

    “The Last Word” (good title, by the way, I like the double-meaning) doesn’t have a lot going on story-wise. It’s mostly Harriett and Anne going on a series of small journeys, meeting people whom Harriett can touch and the audience learning, along the way, more about what makes these two women tick. I enjoyed seeing them interact. Where the film is at it’s best is when it develops its characters the low points are during the overemotional and conventional finale. I don’t want to give it away, but if you’ve seen any movie where the picture begins with an old curmudgeon, you know how this picture ends. I can excuse it somewhat (for reasons that would give too much away), but it bothered me nonetheless.

    “The Last Word” has some charm. I enjoyed young Ann’Jewel Lee Dixon as Harriett's foul-mouthed protege Brenda, despite the fact that her dialogue is a little over-written. Seeing it on the big screen, when pictures like “Get Out”, “Kong: Skull Island” and “Logan” are playing? (I’ll let you know what “Beauty and the Beast” is like in the near future) I’m not so sure about that. If you’re inclined, I say rent “The Last Word”. (Theatrical version on the big screen, March 18, 2017)

    5
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    adamwatchesmovies@  19.3.2017 age: 26-35 2,867 reviews

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