My Last Five Girlfriends - Review
Review by Jack Foley
JULIAN Kemps’ alternative British rom-com is best described as a hybrid variant of High Fidelity meets (500) Days of Summer. Sadly, it’s nowhere near as good as either in spite of its lofty ambitions.
Based on the novel Essays in Love by Alain de Botton, the film stars newcomer Brendan Patricks as Duncan, a heartbroken romeo with suicidal tendencies who talks us through his last five relationships while contemplating his final act.
Most prominent among these is Naomie Harris’ Gemma, a headstrong young woman with relationship issues of her own.
Taken at face value, Kemps’ film deserves credit for eschewing traditional rom-com patterns in favour of a decidedly indie approach.
Hence, rather than couching everything with a feel-good glow, the writer-director has opted for a slightly more downbeat approach.
Sadly, his execution is far from perfect. Duncan, for instance, is a character so self-obsessed and [at times] obnoxious, it’s hard to feel much sympathy for him, while several of the women he dates feel like obvious car wrecks in waiting.
Attempts to add flights of fantasy, such as having scenes play out via animation, in imagined theme parks or using puppets, also expose the film’s budgetary shortcomings and take viewers out of the picture, thereby proving irritating and distracting.
While Duncan’s own knowing sense of humour during the numerous asides he offers to the camera also feel smug and annoying.
That’s not to say the film isn’t without merit. It deserves credit for at least attempting to do something different, while surprise cameos from Johnny Ball and Michael Sheen are fun.
Patricks is also able to display some acting talent in spite of the shortcomings of his character, even though his delivery is more Hugh Grant that John Cusack or Joseph Gordon-Levitt. And Harris is a suitably alluring female presence.
But as hard as it tries to appeal by being different, My Last Five Girlfriends is more likely to leave you feeling as though you want to give it – and the main character – the cold shoulder.
Certificate: 12A
Running time: 87mins
UK Release Date: March 19, 2010
Good film, two moments in particular had me laughing very long, hard and loud. A nice remix of the tired old format of rom coms. Well worth a look.
Rich White Mar 22 #