'The Last Five Years'

In cinemas February 13th in the USA and April 17th in the UK!

Based on the musical by Jason Robert Brown, The Last Five Years is the story of Jamie Wellerstein (Jeremy Jordan), an up and coming novelist, and Cathy Hiatt (Anna Kendrick), a struggling actress. They meet, they fall hopelessly in love, they marry, but as life and work begin to take its toll their relationship falls apart. Told almost entirely through song, this is a musical with a twist. We join Cathy at the moment the relationship has ended and Jamie at the moment it begins. As Cathy moves backwards through the story and Jamie forwards towards the end, we discover what made them great, and what ended it all.

This is most definitely a musical for the modern age. Shunning the cheesiness that sometimes overwhelms the tone of many classic musicals, it adopts a style that pokes fun at both the situations of modern life and its own genre. (Hint: Russell Crowe may not be a fan of this movie!)

Anna Kendrick is just perfect in her role as a woman struggling with the unfairness of her own flailing career as her partner appears to walk seamlessly and effortlessly into the height of his. Despite beginning her career in theatre, to me, Anna is made for the screen. She has that special skill that many of my favourite screen actors possess of being able to portray a million different emotions with only the smallest raise of her eyebrow. She is also a wonderful everywoman. You can see yourself in her, and even when she makes mistakes and does the wrong thing, you are always on her side. When she falls, you want to pick her up and hug her.

Jeremy Jordan as Jamie Wellerstein is frequently not the most likeable of characters. However, he is charming enough that you understand exactly why Cathy fell in love with him in the first place. The final scene is absolutely devastating with the juxtaposition of Jamie leaving their apartment and their relationship forever and Cathy, full of hope after their first date.

All in all, The Last Five Years is a fabulous film. Running the perfect line between both funny and tragic and with a musical score that will stick in your head for weeks to come, I defy you not to race straight home and order the soundtrack.

Review by Melanie Crossey.
See this review on The Fan Carpet.