It’s a frequent complaint these days. Why bother watching so many movies when the trailers give everything away? Emilia Clarke already starred in a previous film, Terminator Genisys, which actually gave away the movie’s biggest twist in a trailer. Similarly, fans were outraged when the death of Mystique was revealed in the X-Men Dark Phoenix trailer. Has the first trailer for Last Christmas just done the same thing? Either way, this film looks determined to pluck at your heartstrings. WARNING: POTENTIAL SPOILERS
The biggest clue is already hidden in the film’s poster, but more of that later.
The trailer confirms what fans already know, namely that Henry Golding is almost too perfect to be human. He was dashing and charming in Crazy Rich Asians and he is equally swoon-worthy in this new film.
This time he plays the lovely Tom, who keeps mysteriously popping up in the life of Emilia Clarke’s depressed Christmas shop worker, Kate. She is battling a serious illness and has even lost faith in Christmas.
But is Tom too good to be true? Let’s look at the evidence.
Firstly, terrific Tom pretty much appears to wear the same outfit, give or take a scarf or hoodie. Perhaps he’s just a man who knows what he likes?
Secondly, he has come into Kate’s life just when she has lost faith in everything and is giving up. You could almost say he is Heaven-sent.
Thirdly, he says things like: “You’re gonna make mistakes and that’s OK. You are made of everything you do.” Even by traditional rom-com standards that is pretty unusual even for the most ‘woke’ of modern metrosexuals to say.
Also when Kate says she only ever bumps into him accidentally, Tom mysteriously replies: “It wasn’t accidental.” Assuming he’s not actually a terrifying stalker, which would take the film somewhere very different, there is glaringly obvious answer.
Fourthly, look at that poster again. Specifically at the tagline.
“It’s A Wonderful Life.” You know, the famous film about a depressed man who meets a mysterious helper who turns out to be… an angel. Called Clarence.
There was no romantic subtext in the Jimmy Stewart classic, but still… Everything suddenly makes sense.
And yet, has the film marketing really been this transparent? Or is Golding simply playing an even more perfect male lead than the last time? Either way, it looks like a good old-fashioned triple hankie weepie, but will we cry will happiness or heartbreak?
LAST CHRISTMAS IS OUT IN UK CINEMAS ON DECEMBER 8
