"The Last Straw" is a holiday movie that was filmed in California and set in Riverside, near the foothills East of Los Angeles. Except for the straw and manger family project toward the end, and a Christmas tree and stockings, there isn't much activity or sense of it being around Christmas. The manger and straw aspect, based on good deeds done in secret, is good. And, there's more drama and some light humor in other scenes - about missing relatives who have died, hurting a friend, helping others, neighborly friendship, and making amends.
The film is based on a story of a real family, the McDonald's. Richard and Paula have four children who are always bickering, especially the older two -- Kelly and Eric. They were friends with the Gibson's who live next door, and "Mr. G" as they call him, lost his wife last year. The Gibson's raised their grandson, Landon, after his parents were killed in a car accident when he was young. Landon has come home from college for the holidays, and will be starting the next year at quarterback on his school's football team. His grandpa, Mr. G., had played football in college.
When Richard's niece comes to visit for the two weeks of the holidays, the youngest two McDonald kids are delighted. Randi is moving in to sleep with Kelly, so that Jordan can have her room. Mike is the youngest son, and he's happy to go along with anything. But Eric has reservations. He says, "One bathroom, three girls - this is gonna be a train wreck."
One might guess how this will turn out, but it has a couple of nice twists about learning, caring for others, and making amends. It's a very good story, with some nice humor. Anybody who grew up in a family with some siblings, will relate to the film. And, parents and grandparents will find many things that will seem very familiar, and especially amusing in later ages.
But I think this film misses something important about apologizing and making amends when a person does or says something to hurt someone else. Landon convinces Jordan to apologize in person to the friend she had hurt. She had posted a page online with very derogative statements about Amber, including lies. She said she had regretted doing it and removed the page. Landon drives her to Amber's home, and she does apologize and Amber forgives her. The film leaves it at that, but because she hurt another person publicly with lies, she should also go public with her apology, admit her wrongdoing and tell the truth. Because, once something goes public, its poison spreads and is imbedded in the minds of people. So, an apology to the offended person alone does nothing to clear the matter up and stop any further spreading of lies.
Otherwise, though, there's a little freshness about this film in its portrayal of a quite common family without a loss in the immediate family. The kids seem to be natural and not forced in their acting, except that Kelly's frequent sarcasm and grouchiness seems overdone. Adam Johnson and Britani Underwood are very natural and seem at home in their roles as mom and dad, Richard and Paula McDonald. Darien Willardson is good as Landon, and Madison Tontempo is good as Jordan. But Corbin Bernsen seems just a little too overdone in his character. He seems a bit hammy - something one sees more often with older actors especially in Christmas holiday films. Some seem to be a little too forward, as a teacher, or a little preachy, in what they say.
While this is a good family film, it may not hold the interest of young children for the very reason that it's so down-to-earth and everyday realistic. The little ones are touched more by Christmas stories, fairy tales, magic and exciting things. Here are some favorite lines from this film.
Paula, "I just need to come up with something that's brilliant to keep the kids from killing each other over Christmas break."
Jordan, "You know, I didn't do anything anybody else isn't already doing." Richard McDonald, "Doesn't make it right though, does it?"
Kelley, "Is there anything I can do to help you get back home sooner?" Paula McDonald, mom, "Hey! Stop that."
Eric, "Let the record show that Kelly is the one causing trouble, again." Richard McDonald, dad, "Okay, thank you, Mr. Prosecutor. How about you get the rest of the luggage out of the car?" Eric, 'There's more?"
Eric, "There's way too many girls around here these days." Landon, "I'm not sure you're always gonna feel that way."
Paula McDonald, "Your dad and I decided that we're going to have a family day." Richard, dad, "Yeah!" Eric, "Yeah!" Kelly, "I'd rather be at the dentist getting a cavity filled." Richard, "Hey, yeah, we can make that happen, huh, buddy?" Eric, "Yeah."
Randi, "Do not be such a grouch." Richard, "Yeah." Mike, "Yeah, don't be a grouch, Oscar." Eric, "She can't help it. She was born that way."
Eric McDonald, "It's a done deal. Dad's a softie."
Eric McDonald, when Landon sees Jordan jogging "Oh, boy. You think she's cute, don't you?" Landon, "Well, she ain't ugly." Mr. Gibson, "C'mon, are we playing football or what?"
Jordan, "Yeah, the safety of the neighborhood depends on you guys not cooking."
The film is based on a story of a real family, the McDonald's. Richard and Paula have four children who are always bickering, especially the older two -- Kelly and Eric. They were friends with the Gibson's who live next door, and "Mr. G" as they call him, lost his wife last year. The Gibson's raised their grandson, Landon, after his parents were killed in a car accident when he was young. Landon has come home from college for the holidays, and will be starting the next year at quarterback on his school's football team. His grandpa, Mr. G., had played football in college.
When Richard's niece comes to visit for the two weeks of the holidays, the youngest two McDonald kids are delighted. Randi is moving in to sleep with Kelly, so that Jordan can have her room. Mike is the youngest son, and he's happy to go along with anything. But Eric has reservations. He says, "One bathroom, three girls - this is gonna be a train wreck."
One might guess how this will turn out, but it has a couple of nice twists about learning, caring for others, and making amends. It's a very good story, with some nice humor. Anybody who grew up in a family with some siblings, will relate to the film. And, parents and grandparents will find many things that will seem very familiar, and especially amusing in later ages.
But I think this film misses something important about apologizing and making amends when a person does or says something to hurt someone else. Landon convinces Jordan to apologize in person to the friend she had hurt. She had posted a page online with very derogative statements about Amber, including lies. She said she had regretted doing it and removed the page. Landon drives her to Amber's home, and she does apologize and Amber forgives her. The film leaves it at that, but because she hurt another person publicly with lies, she should also go public with her apology, admit her wrongdoing and tell the truth. Because, once something goes public, its poison spreads and is imbedded in the minds of people. So, an apology to the offended person alone does nothing to clear the matter up and stop any further spreading of lies.
Otherwise, though, there's a little freshness about this film in its portrayal of a quite common family without a loss in the immediate family. The kids seem to be natural and not forced in their acting, except that Kelly's frequent sarcasm and grouchiness seems overdone. Adam Johnson and Britani Underwood are very natural and seem at home in their roles as mom and dad, Richard and Paula McDonald. Darien Willardson is good as Landon, and Madison Tontempo is good as Jordan. But Corbin Bernsen seems just a little too overdone in his character. He seems a bit hammy - something one sees more often with older actors especially in Christmas holiday films. Some seem to be a little too forward, as a teacher, or a little preachy, in what they say.
While this is a good family film, it may not hold the interest of young children for the very reason that it's so down-to-earth and everyday realistic. The little ones are touched more by Christmas stories, fairy tales, magic and exciting things. Here are some favorite lines from this film.
Paula, "I just need to come up with something that's brilliant to keep the kids from killing each other over Christmas break."
Jordan, "You know, I didn't do anything anybody else isn't already doing." Richard McDonald, "Doesn't make it right though, does it?"
Kelley, "Is there anything I can do to help you get back home sooner?" Paula McDonald, mom, "Hey! Stop that."
Eric, "Let the record show that Kelly is the one causing trouble, again." Richard McDonald, dad, "Okay, thank you, Mr. Prosecutor. How about you get the rest of the luggage out of the car?" Eric, 'There's more?"
Eric, "There's way too many girls around here these days." Landon, "I'm not sure you're always gonna feel that way."
Paula McDonald, "Your dad and I decided that we're going to have a family day." Richard, dad, "Yeah!" Eric, "Yeah!" Kelly, "I'd rather be at the dentist getting a cavity filled." Richard, "Hey, yeah, we can make that happen, huh, buddy?" Eric, "Yeah."
Randi, "Do not be such a grouch." Richard, "Yeah." Mike, "Yeah, don't be a grouch, Oscar." Eric, "She can't help it. She was born that way."
Eric McDonald, "It's a done deal. Dad's a softie."
Eric McDonald, when Landon sees Jordan jogging "Oh, boy. You think she's cute, don't you?" Landon, "Well, she ain't ugly." Mr. Gibson, "C'mon, are we playing football or what?"
Jordan, "Yeah, the safety of the neighborhood depends on you guys not cooking."
