Tongue-in-cheek romance

“The Last Kiss” Starring: Zach Braff, Rachel Bilson, Jacinda Barrett Directed by Tony Goldwyn… “The Last Kiss” Starring: Zach Braff, Rachel Bilson, Jacinda Barrett Directed by Tony Goldwyn

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Relationships are never easy, and even the most resilient of couples can be undone by one moment’s mistake. Such is the case in director Tony Goldwyn’s “The Last Kiss.”

Michael (Zach Braff), a 29-year-old architect, has a seemingly perfect life with his newly pregnant girlfriend, Jenna (Jacinda Barrett). However, beneath the facade of perfection lurks an armory of fear and confusion.

Enter seductive younger woman. Kim, played lackadaisically by Rachel Bilson, stirs up trouble with a flirtatious encounter at the wedding of a mutual acquaintance. Before long, the affections of the fun and spontaneous coed have Michael questioning the relative stability of his life with Jenna.

Most predictably, one thing leads to another, and Michael finds himself in the midst of an uncomfortable triangle. When the truth finally comes out, Jenna leaves in a fit of rage and Michael – recognizing he’s about to lose the love of his life – begins the arduous task of redeeming himself.

As is the case with many films, the depth and complexity stems from the supporting cast. “The Last Kiss” offers a maze of subplots, most of which are extraneous. Michael’s three best friends from high school offer well-intended but essentially worthless advice.

Kenny (Eric Christian Olsen), the hot one, takes on the role of the womanizing stereotype. Izzy (Michael Weston) is hopelessly in love with his ex and Chris (Casey Affleck), the most endearing of the trio, is struggling with the decision to leave his wife. Though marginally entertaining, their stories are essentially filler and do next to nothing to further the plot.

Jenna’s advisors are far more helpful. Her parents, Anna and Stephen – well acted by Blythe Danner and Tom Wilkinson, respectively – are in the midst of their own catastrophe when Jenna returns home in hysterics.

Having survived 30 years of flawed matrimony, Anna and Stephen are uniquely equipped to argue for the value of sticking out tough times. In fact, as their own story of love gone wrong is revealed, it seems to take precedence over all other plot lines. The combined effect of spot-on acting and a heart-wrenching script serves to make Anna’s betrayal and Stephen’s hardened heart the most emotive and realistic aspects of the film.

Conversely, the relationship between Kim and Michael is one of the least realistic twists of plot. The notion that a 20-year-old music student would fall for a nerdy architect nearly a decade her senior is almost entirely implausible, let alone over the course of a few dates. And it’s not as though the film needed further complications. The impact of Michael’s infidelity on his relationship with Jenna is interesting enough without the additional problem of Kim’s feelings.

What “The Last Kiss” does well is expose the problems so many create in relationships. Michael, terrified of the prospect of parenthood and unwilling to admit his fear, undergoes a quarter-life crisis. Jenna and Michael both seek advice from people who are lost themselves. And Anna and Stephen stand as a testament to what happens when people simply stop communicating. The idea is honesty, but the story’s potential is never fully realized.

Generally, “The Last Kiss” is far more successful with its acting than writing. Zach Braff again shows his merit by playing the remorseful cheater to perfection. Tom Wilkinson approaches his character, who feels maddeningly distant to his wife, with a dignified stoicism. Blythe Danner outdoes herself with angry rants, flailing fists and a slow, reluctant return home.

The strength of the cast would be better exemplified with a more cohesive plot. The story has too much going on, which results in a conclusion that cannot answer the film’s questions. Yes, Zach Braff is the undeniable star, but this is no “Garden State.”