Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Please don't spend money on this.

The first must-see film of the year.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

"I'm currently studying Italian and in yesterday's class we got to see a movie, an Italian one of course, for the very first time. The choice of my teacher was SCUSA MA TI CHIAMO AMORE, a completely unknown movie for me". I wrote this almost a year ago in my IMDb for that mentioned Italian romantic movie. Now, I'm still studying that Italian course and yesterday we got to see another movie; the third one really, since a couple of months ago I brought to the class my DVD of Roberto Rossellini's GERMANIA ANNO ZERO. My teacher didn't dig that 1948 film, so this time she didn't ask me for another suggestion! She instead brought L'ULTIMO BACIO – a romantic comedy that offers pretty much the same that SCUSA MA TI CHIAMO AMORE and, I think, dozens of other modern movies from Italy. Actually, I could copy my SCUSA MA TI CHIAMO AMORE comment to express my feelings towards this movie from Gabriele Muccino. Let's see, L'ULTIMO BACIO is (as well): boring and predictable; ridiculous, with cheap soap opera stuff; a movie with lots of minor characters you don't care for; and ultimately it's not funny or romantic. These movies think they're clever and are offering some sort of reality. Wrong. They're a product for young, dumb girls who dream to be with a much older dude instead of focusing in issues like finishing school or getting to know a boy of their same age, if that makes sense. My take on L'ULTIMO BACIO is that Muccino thinks that just for not giving us a "happy ending" he is creating a piece of realism about modern relationships. Yeah, we all know relationships are sometimes tough and bring you nothing but pain – but I don't think we need to sit down for almost two hours and see a bunch of annoying and boring persons to understand that. If you want a really beautiful take on relationships, that doesn't feel FAKE nor have spoiled as*h*les as characters, then stay away from L'ULTIMO BACIO; and don't worry, there are plenty of Woody Allen films out there waiting for you! *Watched it on 22 December, 2012

'The chords ring so familiar / To a man who's heard it all before' - or also to a woman who's heard it all before, as we could paraphrase the above line from a song included in the film score. 'L'ultimo bacio' is really made up of situations recycled from stuff seen and even read before, stuff that had been heard before even in the age of William Shakespeare. But. You can't help but enjoy it. You have to take no effort to stay with this movie. It takes you through the well-charted territory of mismanaged human relationships, the betrayal and the begging for forgiveness part, and makes it a joyride thanks to good pacing and wonderful acting that at times brings out your most gloating self from you. OK, if you have done everything perfectly in your life so far, you might not start laughing... But otherwise you'll simply feel like being in the middle of this all the way. The movie is filled with the sort of everyday desperation that is fed mostly by everyday desperation which just doesn't make sense but is there for most of us.As far as the acting's concerned, Giovanna Mezzogiorno and Stefano Accorsi are definitely in the focus here, but even the supporting cast is doing great and have a lot more than bit parts. OK, I zeroed in on Giovanna Mezzogiorno most of the time, but that doesn't blind me to the value in the others' performance. So, make fun of yourself and watch this film, recommended.

...especially when the star is Giovanna Mezzogiorno! She is a superb and serious acting artiste of world class, having studied with the best in Paris. She brings gravitas to any movie she graces with her presence. She was apparently breaking up with the guy who played her partner in this picture, and the whole thing was extremely passionate on and off-set. Yes, Muccino sucks, as we see clearly now that he has sold out to Hollywood (which can't destroy Italian cinema fast enough). But in the rom-com, coming-of-age genre sucking doesn't really matter, it's all in the style and dialogue, and this picture has both in spades. Is it a pile of male-chauvinist piggery? Well, how can you describe Mediterranean life without it? In fact Giovanna's fictional parents do not fit the chauvinistic mode, with the husband being the boring one who ties the wife down, and not vice-versa. We screened this picture a second time by accident, and we enjoyed watching it nonetheless. Thoroughly recommended, with a warning to feminists.

Spoiler, I guess.But this is not a who-done-it, or even a will-he-do-it. It is a study of the consequences of a person's actions. The medium of movies really defines what can be depicted. It asks for action, strong emotion and the expression thereof. And of course, sex. And why not; it is built into who we are. If sex had been a drive on the level of, let's say, the need for aesthetic experience or love for music, well, we wouldn't have been here to talk about it.Humans evolved because of, and in spite of, conditions that were challenging. War, disease, famine, all that good stuff, made us what we are. That's why we eat too much, revere loyalty (to our clan) and despise our enemies.But through it all, when we were hungry, frightened and at risk of survival, we wanted to merge our genetic code with another bringing forth a continuation of the species, or get laid. Lust, horniness, all that must be controlled by civilization, must be unleashed for human survival. The conflict is everlasting and can only be shaped by culture, never eliminated.So, we love to be reminded of this need, this consummate pleasure, and watch the ideal, and to revel in the experience vicariously."The Last Kiss" manages to do something pretty rare, extol restraint. They get there by showing a night when it is foregone, but only to illustrate the contrast. They build a world that is rich in the reality of lost romance and the satisfaction of routine, mind numbing, comforting routine; the routine of friendships, affection, family and memories; and commitment to values beyond one's self.Sometimes films can transcend their medium, embed meaning into entertainment. This one does it, an achievement to be appreciated and enjoyed.