The Last Kiss

director: Tony Goldwyn
writer: Paul Haggis

Babies are the new marriage and marriage is the new relationship. And relationships suck. Call me cynical.

People strive to build stability and a foundation, yet fear permanence and routine. There's just no satisfying some people.

I don't believe humans are meant to be monogamous creatures; most animals aren't. That's the beauty, and perhaps the cruelty, of nature. But that doesn't mean I'd forgive my partner's trespasses.

With divorce rates higher than ever and our role models, namely our parents, not really helping us with good examples, what chance do we have? And does that mean the next generation has less of a chance?

These are just some observations about relationships that are called to mind while watching this film. The Last Kiss is mostly a comedy dealing in heavy subject matter. Zach Braff, facing fatherhood with the "perfect" woman, Jacinda Barrett, has a freak-out and treads into dangerous territory with "this tiny brunette," Rachel Bilson. Meanwhile, his three male friends illustrate the different stages of relationships. One is a noncommittal player, another pines for his lost "perfect" woman, and yet another is married with child but miserable. Are those his choices? No wonder he falters. But there's hope on the horizon. His girlfriend's parents, played by the wonderful Blythe Danner and Tom Wilkinson, seem to be happy, until they don't.

Relationships are hard. Some work, most don't. You don't need a movie to tell you that. And don't expect any great insights in this one. It has some truthfulness, but I expected more from Paul Haggis (who wrote Crash and Million Dollar Baby), although in fairness, it is a remake of an Italian film, which I have not seen. And, as a warning, the film sort of ends abruptly, with which many of the viewers I sat in with were not happy. And is it bad that I would rather have seen the road trip part of this film than the relationship part? But as I say, you always want what you can't have.

rating: ***/***** (wait for the DVD)

recommendations: Alfie, Happily Ever After