In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it’s writer/director Nathan Blackwell’s science-fiction–tinged comedy The Last Movie Ever Made.
Synopsis
With the world about to end, Marshall (Adam Rini) convinces a group of friends and strangers, including his ex-wife Audrey (Megan Rini), to help finish the sci-fi movie he abandoned in high school.
The Good
Joseph: In the grand tradition of “Let’s put on a show!” vehicles, Blackwell serves up an engaging feature that pays homage to classic science fiction and even the serials of yesteryear, the latter of which don’t receive enough recognition nowadays. A group of unusual characters brought to cinematic life by a sizable cast with the players giving fun performances, The Last Movie Ever Made provides plenty of amusing moments and no little tugging at the heartstrings with its messages about the importance of friends and family.
Mike: The Last Movie Ever Made is the type of film that - despite not being a great movie - sticks with you in a good way, assuming you are of the audience it’s trying to capture. Fans of the old B&W serials like "Commando Cody" or "Rocky Jones, Space Ranger" and folks that made their own movies as kids will find a lot to wax nostalgic over here as lead Marshall is the very same kind of person. There’s a lot going on here as almost every character has some type of arc and it would be easy to lose some of that along the way, but Blackwell manages to keep the train on the track and delivers an emotional and entertaining story.
The Bad
Joseph: Adam Rini gives a fine performance as Marshall, though I thought the character — a ne’er-do-well who is off-putting even to those closest to him — was not easy to root for, and his arc was rather predictable from the get-go. Sometimes the family drama is a bit much. Otherwise, it’s hard for me to nitpick at this film.
Mike: It’s hard to say anything negative about something that is so earnest and wears its heart on its sleeve like The Last Movie Ever Made does. It’d be like kicking a puppy who just wants to play fetch, and that would be a pretty crappy thing to do. But since “The Bad” is in our name I feel like I have to say something in this section. So, while ultimately he does the right thing, let’s just say that Marshall is a very hard character to like even though we know we can pretty safely predict where his arc is going to take him.
The Verdict
Joseph: The Last Movie Ever Made is a valentine to independent, microbudget movie-making and the people behind those efforts. It may get a bit sappy at times, but it is meant to be ultimately feel-good, and it does what it sets out to do. Recommended for anyone who has ever tried making a movie from school years to the professional level, anyone who has ever dreamed about making one, and anyone who has ever had fun watching one.
Mike: If Seeking a Friend for the End of the World were made by The Little Rascals who were played by the kids from the movie Super 8, it might look a little like this - and I mean that in the most insanely positive way possible. While the lead character, Marshall, is hard to truly like, everything else manages to press all the right buttons as we get a tale of love lost, love found, friendship and - ultimately - redemption. Anyone who has ever made their own movies will feel a kinship with the folks within the story and it’s really hard to not root for them thanks to the earnest and believable performances that everyone turns in.
The Last Movie Ever Made, from Squishy Studios, screens as part of Chattanooga Film Festival, which runs June 23–29, 2023, in person and with a virtual version. For more information, visit https://www.chattfilmfest.org/.
The Last Movie Ever Made
Directed By: Nathan Blackwell
Written By: Nathan Blackwell
Starring: Adam Rini, Megan Rini, Craig Curtis
Run Time: 1h 35m
Rating: NR
Release Date: March 24, 2023 (United States)