Starring Anna Kendrick, Jeremy Jordan, Natalie Knepp, and Marceline Hugot
Directed by Richard LaGravenese
Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
Other than this being a musical romantic comedy, this is a very different beast than our previous reviews. The Last 5 Years began life as Brown's version of his failed marriage to Teresa O'Neill. While it wasn't a huge hit commercially off-Broadway, it did well enough critically for The Weinstein Company to consider turning it into a film. The show originally had only two characters...and while the film did expand this somewhat, it's still the story of a guy and a girl and the choices they make, good and bad, during their five-year marriage. Let's begin as Cathy (Kendrick) laments that her husband Jamie (Jordan) has left her and find out...
The Story: Jamie and Cathy's life together begins well. Initially, they can't keep their hands off each other, and Jamie is so delighted to have found someone who is so different from his wealthy Jewish upbringing. He's thrilled when his first novel becomes a success, but each book takes him further away. Cathy initially gives up her acting career to be with him, but he eventually encourages her to pursue it. They get married in 2010, but her career is improving, and he's having a hard time avoiding affairs at work. In the end, neither of them have time for each other, and he gets involved in other women. Jamie finally walks out in 2014, but it's Cathy who is devastated.
The Song and Dance: The non-linear timeline makes this unique among musicals and romantic comedies. It's sung-through, with very little dialogue, almost an opera. Jordan and especially Kendrick makes this work far better than it should as the guy whose focus on his career costs him his marriage and the girl who gives herself for a guy, only to regret not putting more into herself. There's some nice cinematography for a relatively low-budget title, making it feel like a movie and not just an off-Broadway show transferred to film.
The Numbers: We open with "Still Hurting" at their apartment as Cathy admits she misses Jamie and wishes he hadn't left. This introduces the conceit of Cathy's darker memories being seen in grays or darker colors, while Jamie's sun-dappled recollections are bright and sunny. We get this in "Shishka Goddess" as Jamie describes how happy he is with Cathy and how glad he is that she's so unlike any girl he's ever known. In 2013, Cathy claims "See, I'm Smiling," but she's really anything but when Jamie comes to Ohio for her birthday, only to claim he can't stay because he has a party at Random House Publishing to attend.
Jamie's so thrilled in 2010 when Random House buys his manuscript, he ends up dancing on the streets with half of New York. Everything is "Moving So Fast"...but not for Cathy, who can't get an audition. His book is so successful, Cathy decides she wants to be "A Part of That" and focus on his achievement. Cathy is working as a bartender when Jamie tells her his newest Christmas story, "The Schmuel Song," which ends with Jamie encouraging her to follow her own dreams. "A Summer In Ohio" has Cathy unhappily working summer stock and longing to return to Jamie and Broadway. In "The Next Ten Minutes," Jamie proposes at a gazebo in Central Park, where they also get married.
Jamie wishes "A Miracle Would Happen" and keep him away from women, while Cathy is delighted about getting a part in an off-Broadway show but still wonders what will happen "When You Come Home to Me." She realizes at a reading for one of Jamie's books that she's "Climbing Uphill" and needs to stop putting his needs first. Cathy doesn't at all believe Jamie when she refuses to attend another book party, pointing out that he never pays attention to her. "If I Didn't Believe In You," Jamie says, he wouldn't be there. Earlier, they visit Cathy's hometown, as she insists "I Can Do Better Than That" and avoid being a suburban wife. Jamie does have those affairs, but he tells the women "Nobody Needs to Know." The movie ends with Cathy saying "Goodbye Until Tomorrow" on her first date with Jamie...and Jamie walking out to "I Could Never Rescue You."
Trivia: The show debuted off-Broadway at the Minetta Theater in March 2002. It only ran for three months, but was well-received by critics and won several Drama Desk and Lucile Lortel awards. It returned to off-Broadway for a limited run in 2013 and did somewhat better in its off-West End production in 2016. It's currently slated to make its Broadway debut in a limited run this April.
What I Don't Like: I feel sorry for Cathy. She and Jamie both had their problems, but he's the one who had the affairs. I'm not sure he was even worth that aching "Still Hurting" in the opening. Also a reminder that this is a romantic comedy with traditional show tunes in an unconventional format. If you're looking for a more action-packed plot, a lot of huge chorus numbers, a linear story that goes in one direction, or one with less music, this isn't for you.
The Big Finale: Charming and bittersweet story is best for fans of romcoms that don't move in the ways you'd expect or small-scale musicals that are slightly darker than usual.
Home Media: Easily found just about anywhere. Can currently be found streaming for free on Tubi.
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