Last Kiss, The

Stars: Zach Braff, Jacinda Barrett, Rachel Bilson, Tom Wilkinson, Blythe Danner

Director: Tony Goldwyn

Most films have some redeeming qualities. however disappointing they are on the whole. A few, however, are torment to sit through, and this, alas, is one of them.

Feeling trapped, their lives falling apart (they think), four 29-year-olds and the prospective mother-in-law of one try to break free of the lifetime bonds that threaten them.

Depressingly, they soon fall helplessly back into the same relationships as before, with recent sins as additional ballast.

The principal character is Michael (Braff) whose girlfriend Jenna (Barrett) is pregnant, an announcement that causes him to go off the rails with Kim (Bilson, the sparkiest thing in this whole misbegotten film).

At the same time, Jenna's mother (Danner) is walking out on her husband (Wilkinson), a man perennially in a cardigan. Wilkinson has played this role before, and clearly needs to get out more - to a part that allows him to smile.

If you're lucky, you'll fall asleep before most of the characters end up where they started.

David Quinlan

USA 2006. UK Distributor: Momentum (DreamWorks/Lakeshore). Technicolor.
98 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 2, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 2.

Review date: 15 Oct 2006