andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Ever since landing a breakout movie hit with Garden State, “Scrubs” star Zach Braff has been Hollywood’s hippest It Boy. When it was announced that Braff would team up with Crash director-writer-producer Paul Haggis in The Last Kiss, big things were expected. Neither disappointed.

Haggis once again took the reins as screenplay wizard for The Last Kiss, which was based on a 2001 Italian film titled “L’Ultimo Bacio.” Braff stars as Michael, a young professional architect whose life is going just the way he wants it to. He’s in a healthy, serious relationship with a beautiful girl (Jenna, played by Jacinda Barrett) and they are expecting their first child together. His life is perfect. Except for the fact that he’s on the verge of turning 30. And he’s terrified that the perfect arc his life has taken means that there will be no more surprises left to look forward to.

So when Michael meets Kim (Rachel Bilson), a cute, young college student who brazenly asks him out, he can’t say no. But while the date makes him feel 10 years younger, it also makes him realize he has made a huge mistake. Of course, it’s too late.

Half drama, half comedy, The Last Kiss is a sweetly genuine portrayal of what it’s like to feel like you’re in limbo at the age of 29 – to experience a premature mid-life crisis triggered by the realization that there’s no where to go but to grow up. It works because the premise is so universal, especially for this generation.

And where there may have been weaknesses (such as the fact that this is a story line that has been done before), the Last Kiss boasts a stellar ensemble cast that puts in very convincing performances. Relative newcomer Barrett played a very believable woman scorned, despite the fact that her character lacked the sort of development that would have helped connect Jenna with audiences. Meanwhile, Braff has clearly mastered playing the character on the edge of an epiphany with likeable humanity. Michael cheated but you can’t help still rooting for him as he tries to win his way back into Jenna’s heart. But the real star was veteran actress Blythe Danner, still as sharp as ever playing Jenna’s mother. Danner stole the show with perfectly timed one-liners that brought comedy even to her character’s own disheartening marriage woes.

The film’s plot may have been heartbreaking but smart, witty writing makes The Last Kiss easy to swallow.

Actor, writer and director Zach Braff has picked a (mostly) new line-up of bands for the soundtrack to his new film, “The Last Kiss.”

Just as he did with the soundtrack for his last outing, 2004’s “Garden State,” Braff has selected a range of artists from the most popular to virtual unknowns.

Billboard reports that the compilation will include tracks from Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann and Rufus Wainwright, alongside Turin Brakes, Athlete, Amos Lee, Remy Zero, Ray Lamontagne and Rachael Yamagata. The album will also feature a previously unreleased duet between Joshua Radin and Schuyler Fisk called “Paperweight.”

The soundtrack will be released on September 12, three days before “The Last Kiss” hits theatres.

Through Braff didn’t write or direct the film, as he did with “Garden State,” he stars in the movie. Jacinda Barrett, Casey Affleck, and The O.C.’s Rachel Bilson are also on-board.

Here’s the full tracklist for the soundtrack:

“Chocolate,” Snow Patrol
“Star Mile,” Joshua Radin
“Pain Killer,” Turin Brakes
“Warning Sign,” Coldplay
“Ride,” Cary Brothers
“El Salvador,” Athlete
“Hide and Seek,” Imogen Heap
“Reason Why,” Rachael Yamagata
“Hold You in My Arms,” Ray Lamontagne
“Prophecy,” Remy Zero
“Paper Bag,” Fiona Apple
“Today’s the Day,” Aimee Mann
“Arms of a Woman,” Amos Lee
“Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk (Reprise),” Rufus Wainwright
“Paperweight,” Schuyler Fisk and Joshua Radin