How Zach Braff does it? I'm not too sure. All I know is that - the guy is brilliant. He has incredible insight in the kind of projects he chooses to work on. He's a genius, for sure.. from screenwriting to acting, soundtrack selection to directing.

In many a series of lead roles, he plays Michael in the film called The Last Kiss. Michael, a twentysomething architect on the verge of pushing 30, is happily settled with his girlfriend Jenna (Jacinda Barrett) - the kind of relationship his friends were quite envious of. He realizes that everything he wanted since he was young falls into place. He has a great job, maintains a friendship with his childhood friends and Jenna, who is expecting their first baby. Pretty much, he has it all.


While at a friend's wedding, he meets Kim (Rachel Bilson) - a charming yet aggressive college student who caught his eye. With her forward nature, she seems to easily get Michael wrapped around her fingers without hesitation. While making conversations with her, Michael confesses how much he thinks that even in his otherwise perfect life - there's no more room for surprises anymore. Kim suggests that he's in a crisis which he agrees in silence.

On the homefront, Jenna is caught offguard of her parent's separation and tries to tie loose ends hoping to get Anna and Stephen (played by Blythe Danner and Tom Wilkinson respectively) back together especially with the pending birth of their granddaughter. While, Michael's friends are in a tsunami of relationship turmoil. Izzy, who got jumped by his girlfriend Ariana, and Kenny, who is commitment-phobic, decide to embark on a roadtrip to get away from Wisconsin. Chris, on the otherhand, is stuck in a ticking timebomb of a marriage with Lisa waiting to disintegrate.


With everyone around them in a state of domestic disturbance, Michael is secretly brewing a mix of his own by meeting Kim from time to time with Jenna kept in the dark. Despite having an inkling of what the consequences of his actions will be, he becomes more enamored with Kim's youthful and carefree ways. Chris suspects of Michael's cheating ways and decides not to get involved in any of his alibis.

On the night when he was partying with Kim at a club, Jenna tries to get hold of him with sad news of Izzy's dad who passed away. He puts up an excuse that he is out with Chris only to get busted by her at the wake where all of Michael's friends including Chris are present except him. Upon rushing his way home, Jenna confronts and interrogates him of his whereabouts. Preferring to stick to his alibi only to get outed with Chris, he starts confessing and vows of its meaningless implication in their relationship. With his apologies holding no weight on the matter, she kicks him out of the house. So left with no place to go, he drops by at Kim's dorm and decides to sleep with her instead.

Jenna moves to her parent's house to compose herself and cool down. He figures it right away and thinks of visiting her there when Kim ambushes him at his office. He explains to Kim of his predicament and tries to apologize to her of the confusions caused between them. Michael then rushes out and arrives at the house to talk to Jenna. As her parents tries to get some sense talking to them, she bolts out of the door and goes straight to their house and locks Michael out. He makes up for everything that he has done by waiting and staying in the porch for days and nights - rain or shine. Until Jenna gives in.


What's fascinating about the film is how it dissects the very complicated depths of how relationships is responsible to its own demise. The human factor, is almost and always, a given factor. How being human is an imperfection in itself that explaining lapses in judgment is like beyond the radars of being human. With a contemporary story and setting, Braff has become a poster boy for sensitively flawed leads experiencing dramatic highs and lows of a relationship. His performance is just seamless to begin with. In the meantime, Bilson can easily master the role of a sex kitten trying to seduce the male protagonist and sway him off the tracks. But somehow, you can't help but notice bits and pieces of her O.C. days with Summer Roberts springing from behind her - not so hard to miss on that one though. Overall, the material on this remake is relatively modern and likeable. Kudos!


** This story is taken from my old blog - popcorn sessions. **

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Photos via Aceshowbiz, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, JoBlo