'The Last Five Years' review: Intriguing & bittersweet musical charms
The musical drama "The Last Five Years" (opening in theaters Feb. 13) should not be written off as simply a musical or some romantic fluff. This is a rich tapestry of dreams, love, resentment and all the ups and downs of a doomed relationship.
In short: The five-year love story between struggling actress Cathy (Anna Kendrick) and novelist Jamie (Jeremy Jordan) - from their first date to their eventual breakup. (Watch the trailer)
Many end-to-end love stories have been made into movies - and the gimmick of "Last Five Years" is two fold: a relationship drama told through song (with very little non-singing dialogue) that begins at the bookends of the relationship -- starting at the beginning and the conclusion of their relationship and ending in the middle of their love story. (It uses the storytelling framework of "Memento.")
The key to "Last Five Years" is its song selection. This bittersweet and exuberant musical effortlessly shifts from Cathy's introductory lamenting first song and glides into Jamie's joyous ode to first love. "The Last Five Years" gracefully navigates the tumultuous ups-and-downs of their relationship, capturing the emotional rollercoaster of an ultimately doomed couple.
The "how it feels to be in a relationship" gimmick absolutely works. The tone elegantly shifts from hope, resentment and joy. The songs sincerely live in the moment, sung by characters expressing their hopes for the future, concerns in the present and heartbreak as they look back at their deteriorating relationship.
Admittedly, "Last Five Years" is light on narrative connective tissue and heavy on "how I feel" songs -- and that is OK because the songs and tones beautifully weave together to form a genuinely heartbreaking and sweet love story. Every song is emotionally honest and executed with undeniable charm.
Someone could re-edit this story into chronological order -- but it is the juxtaposition of the songs that add thematic dimension to this otherwise simple story. This film remarkably doesn't trip over every tonal shift - it never feels like a patchwork of songs because this film smoothly transitions between songs defined by diametrically opposed themes and tones.
Final verdict: "The Last Five Years" is an unconventional, heartfelt and charming musical. It uses its gimmicks to tell an emotionally genuine love story filled with catchy songs that smartly interlace songs that touch upon the highs and lows of a sweet, but doomed, love story.
Score: 4/5
"The Last Five Years" has a running time of 94 minutes and is rated PG-13 for sexual material, brief strong language and a drug image.
