Last Christmas, Worst Christmas

Kate (EMILIA CLARKE) is a professional elf in the employ of Santa. No, she's not at the North Pole; Santa is her grouchy Asian boss, played by MICHELLE YEOH. Kate's a bit of a cock-up, going from flat to flat, wherever she can find a friend who will let her flop for the night. Her parents live in town, but she can't stand being around her overprotective mother. Kate's attitude also carries over into her job, which she treats with apathy and carelessness, being more focused on getting the big audition that will launch her music career.

When she encounters Tom (HENRY GOLDING), her life begins to slowly change. She finds him weird at first, and she continues dating other people (if we define dating as "sleeping around"). But the more she bumps into him, the more she is drawn to this blissfully zen-like man, who is always "looking up" and finding new things to appreciate.

Kate's story stems from the previous year when she had an illness that nearly killed her. One might think that surviving such an event might give her a more thankful attitude. Instead, she is cynical, selfish, and exceedingly apathetic.The one bright spot in her life is her love of the music of GEORGE MICHAELS. And since this film, LAST CHRISTMAS, takes its name from one of his songs -- the least Christmas-like song in holiday rotation this season -- the rest of his discography gets shoehorned in wherever it can be made to fit.

LAST CHRISTMAS has most of the tropes of the traditional rom-com: the guy you shouldn't like, but do; the guy who shouldn't like you, but does; the clumsy falling, the accidents, and the magical moments of serendipity. But it is also laden with language and sexuality that make it not something that would be considered family viewing. Yes, it's PG-13, but if a Christmas movie isn't fit for the whole family, it's not really a Christmas movie. (Yes, NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION has a much harder rating, but it's popularity comes largely from the televised, bawdlerized version.) I'd recommend giving LAST CHRISTMAS a pass.