If You Were the Last

In fresh dramedy "If You Were The Last" astronauts Anthony Mackie & Zoe Chao are stranded alone in space for three years on a charmingly lo-tech spaceship (which is in no way authentic - that's not the film's vibe) with no comms to earth but food, air and batches of music & movies. To pass time they ponder issues like the pro's & cons of sleeping with each other - including the emotions involved (or lack thereof). Geoff Stults & especially Natalie Morales give good support, and Kristian Mercado directs with fine quirky style on his debut, matching debut writer Angela Bourassa's script that's more light, bright, chick-flick than legitimate sci-fi. A good, effective, original film.

At first, I thought this movie was a time stretch...meaning it would've been a perfect tale for an anthology TV show but felt too stretched out to meet a standard movie length. But! Then I realized that it had effectively latched itself to my heart and made it ache for these characters. Well played! I very much appreciated that they didn't leave the story in space. I get that it's a whole vibe to leave movies on an open-ended note, but I prefer a nearly wrapped up bow. Call me unsophisticated, but I'm a sucker for a full love story. I also commend the team for managing to make a low-budget space movie that felt better than if it was done with and endless budget. The cutesy space stuff worked for me, it made it more endearing. Thoroughly enjoyed this movie.

The storyline has some interesting beats, and the performances by the leads (Anthony Mackie & Zoe Chao) are endearing. While it's best not to dig greatly into the sci-fi aspects of the film, this is one of those films that's uplifted greatly by the camaraderie the protagonists share. Even routine activities carry a delightful charm, and given the isolated setting of the film, it also helps that both the leads are fantastic dancers.

The writing (especially, the dialogues) gives them both sufficient shades and spends time detailing their pop-culture preferences (music, cinema), making it easy to connect with their mindsets. A particular decision they decide to take (and the moral dilemma behind it) is presented quite nicely. The visuals exude a Wes Anderson-esque charm; the colors are rich and bright, making the environs of the "space box" really appealing. Some of the storytelling steam is lost in the final 30 minutes and the resolution to the film's core problem is rather quick, but it sure doesn't take much away from its watchability factor.

One of Roger Ebert's most unappreciated legacies is his "20 Minute Test." If you are not hooked by the movie in the first 20 minutes, it is time to pull the plug. This is yet another "hi concept" film from Tinseltown, that being insider code for a movie so far from traditional plot arcs that literally the only one who completely understands what is happening is the writer. The larger question, the one nobody is asking, is why so many critics fell in love with the flic, basically calling it one of the best comedies of all time? No, sorry, you must have seen a different film. Well produced, well acted, but ultimately not what it is being marketed as. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Cute little romance movie with a sweet storyline. The sci-fi effects in space are done super cute, almost like a theatre play. The romance part is understandable, I mean, if you are locked up with someone for 3 years, shut out of the "real world", of course you are going to have a special bond with that person. Both main actors are entertaining to watch and have cute chemistry together. I fairly enjoyed this light romance comedy! Don't expect a high production with high budget CGI and whatnot. Just enjoy the lighthearted romance and the cute set in space, then you will have a great time watching this movie.