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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Monday 11 noveMber 2019

'Last Christmas' isn't the rom-com

cliche it appears

By JAKE COYLE family are longtime Lon- the store, she makes half-
Associated Press doners who emigrated hearted auditions, trying to
Paul Feig's "Last Christmas" from war-torn Yugosla- break through as a musi-
looks every bit like your via) and Bryony Kimmings. cal performer. Her boss at
standard holiday romantic- Thompson, of course, is the boutique shop goes by
comedy, but it has some already an integral part the name Santa (Michelle
surprises under its gauzy of one Yuletide perennial, Yeoh) and delights in sar-
wrapping. "Love Actually," so it's natu- castic quips aimed at her
Kate (Emilia Clarke) works ral to come to "Last Christ- lone elf.
in a year-round Christmas mas" seeking some of the Kate is also recovering
ornament shop in London same spirit. from a health issue refer-
This image released by Universal Pictures shows Emilia Clarke in where she must dress daily It's not to be found. "Last enced only vaguely at first.
a scene from "Last Christmas."
Associated Press in a green elf costume. A Christmas" is about as And when she meets Tom
repeatedly self-described buoyant as leftover egg- (Golding), Kate is reluctant-
mess living couch to nog. Clarke's natural charm ly inspired to begin putting
couch, Kate's life begins to comes through — she her life together — even
change after she meets a looks ecstatic to be out of though Tom is always dis-
mysterious stranger (Henry Westeros and playing a less appearing, only popping
Golding) whose life advice upright character — but up randomly.
— "Just look up" — would such a fleabag-screwup There are good intentions
be too hokey for anything role feels better suited to a all around but hardly any
but aspiring meteorologists. more comedic performer. jokes, which makes the
So far, this might sound Yet it's often entertain- movie's treacly third-act
like a reworking of Ernst Lu- ing the way Thompson reveal of Tom's identity still
bitsch's "The Shop Around and Feig take a rom-com harder to swallow. Mov-
the Corner" (still the great- set-up and steadily pull it ies like "Bridesmaids" and
est X-mas rom-com). And apart, even as they add "The Heat" made Feig one
yet "Last Christmas" turns in the requisite gobs of syr- of Hollywood's top com-
out to be something less upy sentiment. These mov- edy directors, but since
familiar. It's the first — and ies can be rosy portraits of his "Ghostbusters" reboot,
likely the last — Brexit Christ- their cities and their wealth- Feig has turned more to-
mas movie. ier, white residents. But "Last ward other genres, relying
That's not exactly the stuff of Christmas" captures a di- on narrative twists that he
movie posters. Those drawn verse London of immigrants can't always pull off. His
to "Last Christmas" by the and outsiders, and gravi- last film, the 2018 suburban
infectious lilt of the Wham! tates not toward its tour- noir "A Simple Favor," was
classic and the appeal of ist landmarks but its street derailed by wild, "Gone
seeing Clarke newly freed dwellers. This is set amid Girl"-inspired plot develop-
from "Game of Thrones" will the harsh context of Brexit, ments.
encounter a holiday fable with background TVs show- George Michael's "Last
that slyly inverts many of ing the U.K. debates and Christmas" was always
the usual trappings of the one "go back to where you more of heartbreak song
romantic comedy — so came from" encounter on than a holiday anthem.
much so that's it's neither a city bus. Feig's movie, too, diverts
particularly funny nor espe- Kate is going from one from standard rom-com
cially romantic. one-night stand to anoth- beats for something more
"Last Christmas" was written er, steadfastly refusing to about rehabilitation, char-
by Emma Thompson (who retreat home to her over- ity and diversity. Its heart
also plays Kate's heavily bearing family in the sub- might be in the right place,
accented mother — their urbs. When not working at even if its storyline isn't.q

Chrissy Teigen honored at

Baby2Baby gala

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. urday night in Culver City, cessities to children living in
CULVER CITY, Calif. (AP) California. Her husband, poverty.
— Chrissy Teigen said she singer John Legend, pre- Ellen DeGeneres, Kenan
felt honored to receive an sented her with the award Thompson and Andy Co-
award at the Baby2Baby symbolizing her commit- hen congratulated Teigen
Gala, but her acceptance ment to children in need. in a video message.
speech wasn't all about "I feel honored to be hon- Teigen said she and Leg-
her achievement: "No kid ored," Teigen said. end have tried to instill the
should go hungry. No kid Legend praised Teigen for importance of giving to the
should not go without the being an advocate for chil- less fortunate in their young
basics in their home." dren through Baby2Baby. children, Luna and Miles.
Teigen — a model, televi- The nonprofit organization Saturday's event celebrat-
sion host and cookbook looks for high-profile celebs ed the organization and
author — accepted the to highlight their mission of raised funds for children liv-
Giving Tree Award on Sat- helping provide basic ne- ing in poverty. q