The Last Shift movie review by Movie Review Mom

MOVIE TITLE: THE LAST SHIFT

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: C+

IN A NUTSHELL:

Not to be confused with the movie Last Shift, which is a horror flick, this dramedy features excellent performances. The film was written and directed by Andrew Cohn and will make you think about your life choices. It’s an interesting peek at two fast-food employees who have opposing attitudes, work ethic, and lives, yet end up in the same place. The Last Shift is a movie that is being called a comedy, but it’s not the laugh-fest you might be hoping for. Instead, it’s a very slow burn that plays more like a sad drama with some intriguing themes worth talking about. Unfortunately, the director doesn’t go deep enough in that conversation and most audiences are walking away bored and hungry.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Some profanity, including F-bombs, although other swear words are replaced with less offensive words like “fricken”.
Some crude language and conversations.
A man flips the bird.
A man gets mugged.
Kids will be bored. So will some adults.

THEMES:

Working for a living, your life’s work
Taking pride in your work
Teamwork
Attitude
Valuing yourself and others
The price of crime and education
Racism
Integrity
The influence we have on each other.

THINGS I LIKED:

Richard Jenkins is absolutely fantastic and gives a stellar performance in this role. His subtle facial expressions and body movements kept me mesmerized the entire time.
Shane Paul McGhie began practicing his Academy Award acceptance speech when he was only 4 years old. He attended the Beverly Hills High School Theatre Arts Department. He has pumped out a ton of small roles on TV and on movies in just the last 2 years, so I would say he’s well on his way to a successful acting career.
So many things were NOT said in the movie, leaving unfinished conversations and unanswered questions hanging in the air. If that was intentional, it was effective; however, if that wasn’t a deliberate choice but due to a poorly designed narrative, then it was still effective. That being said, it leaves the audience a bit frustrated.
I always get a kick out of Ed O’Neill. His colorful character offered most of the humorous moments in the film, as well as some context for Stanley’s character.
Other cast members who provided some background and who did a very good job were Allison Tolman, Birgundi Baker, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
Both of the protagonists experience shifts in their character and thinking, and it was fascinating to watch the events that caused those changes.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

It’s a slow burn. A lot of viewers are leaving the theater dissatisfied, saying that absolutely nothing happens in the movie.
Some of the editing was choppy.
There is one scene that had a transition that made it hard for me to know if the events occurred immediately after the previous scene or after a longer period of time. It took me a minute to realize the timeline for some reason.
The movie is being advertised as a comedy, but the lines that were the most memorable to me were the ones that provided some interesting insights. You can see them here below:

INTERESTING LINES:

“Like my mom used to always say, ‘Some turn up their sleeves and some don’t turn up at all.’” – Stanley (Richard Jenkins)
“Sometimes you gotta do more than just the bare minimum.” – Stanley
“I don’t have the luxury of taking a stand against the man.” – Stanley
“Sometimes you just gotta make your own breaks.” – Stanley
“Just being here is not enough.” – Sidney (Birgundi Baker)
“I always say the first half of graveyard is fighting off drunks. The second half is fighting off boredom.” – Stanley
“Inspiration is hard to come by on an empty stomach.” – Jevon (Shane Paul McGhie)

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