Rating of
2.5/4
A Relationship Through Song
Unknown - wrote on 08/18/15
'The Last Five Years' is a romance that tells it's story out of order and almost entirely through song. I admit, that premise alone is intriguing enough to merit a viewing. The result is somewhere between gimmicky and genuine. On the one hand, this film is visually great. The widely colorful cinematography and authentic locations aid wonderfully in the transition from stage to screen. The two leads are perfectly cast for the material. I've admired them both for a long time. They manage to give convincing emotional performances while simultaneously singing their hearts out. Some lip syncing probably helped, but even so the pair make it look effortless. The whole film kind of breezes by due to the light nature of the presentation. Going through the ups and downs of this relationship wasn't as investing as I'd hoped. The story takes us to places that are easily foreseen. Their careers keep them on different paths and one of them gets led astray due to a lack of commitment. Certain individual scenes work better than the sum of the whole. I never completely felt the sorrow, except in the opening song. Honest lyrics arose a few times in the music. The couple's interactions during their confrontations were very believable, while their 'love-y' moments felt too cutesy at times. It goes for the extremes on both sides and doesn't stay in the middle enough. This is a fine musical that cuts from the norm. Most could find some level of joy in this solid fluff.
