The Last Word | Rotten Tomatoes

The Last Word

R

Released Mar 3, 2017

1 hr. 48 min.

Comedy

Drama

TRAILER

for The Last Word: Trailer 1

List

40%

94 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Harriet Lauler (Shirley MacLaine), a once-successful businesswoman, works with young local writer Anne Sherman (Amanda Seyfried) to pen her life story. When the initial result doesn't meet Lauler's high expectations, she sets out to reshape the way she'll be remembered, dragging Anne along as an unwilling accomplice. As their journey unfolds, the two women develop a strong bond which not only alters Harriet's legacy but also Anne's future.

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Critics Consensus

The Last Word proves Shirley MacLaine remains a wonderfully magnetic screen presence -- and deserving of a far better vehicle for her considerable talents.

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Nikoloz E

Mamma mia that girl can really ruin any movie

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Very rarely nowadays do you get done watching a movie and say that was amazing. This is one of those pictures. This is the perfect picture for Shirley MacLaine to share all her talents.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A smart funny movie with excellent performances that are not over the top. Warning: no super heros.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

You can't go wrong with Shirley MacLain.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

great movie in reminding us to take risk and challenge ourselves to do our best.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It is heart warming and extremely inspiring

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

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Mark Pellington

Director

Shirley MacLaine

Harriet

Amanda Seyfried

Anne

AnnJewel Lee Dixon

Brenda

Thomas Sadoski

Robin Sands

Philip Baker Hall

Edward

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Logan Is Certified Fresh

The Last Word: Trailer 1

2:24

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Jonathan Dean

Times (UK)

This is a curious mix of The Blind Side, High Fidelity and A Christmas Carol.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 11, 2017

Full Review

Ed Potton

Times (UK)

A bracingly cynical set-up is slightly betrayed by a treacly ending, but redeemed by the cast, especially the watchable Seyfried and MacLaine, who has the same glint in her eyes that she had in 1960 in The Apartment.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 11, 2017

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

With its off-the-mark proclamations about the Kinks and hi-fi nerd jargon, this feels like a screenplay written by someone who once read about music on Wikipedia but prefers not to listen to it.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 9, 2017

Full Review

Leigh Monson

Substream Magazine

What we have is a film built around a character arc that we never really see play out, and while it is intermittently funny, it rings hollow as a weekly sitcom.

Rated: 2.5/5

Sep 24, 2020

Full Review

Steven Prokopy

Third Coast Review

You could do better this weekend, but you could do a whole lot worse.

May 5, 2020

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

You'll laugh. You'll cry. The Last Word speaks from the heart with the last word on life and legacy - Love.

Oct 30, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

Harriet Lauler (Shirley MacLaine), a once-successful businesswoman, works with young local writer Anne Sherman (Amanda Seyfried) to pen her life story. When the initial result doesn't meet Lauler's high expectations, she sets out to reshape the way she'll be remembered, dragging Anne along as an unwilling accomplice. As their journey unfolds, the two women develop a strong bond which not only alters Harriet's legacy but also Anne's future.

Director: Mark Pellington
Executive Producer: Andrew Karpen, Daniel Steinman, Teddy Schwarzman, Damiano Tucci, Phillip B. Goldfine, Danny Roth, Shirley MacLaine, Amanda Seyfried, Aaron Magnani, Kevin D. Forester
Screenwriter: Stuart Ross Fink
Distributor: Bleecker Street Media
Production Co: Myriad Pictures, Parkside Pictures
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 3, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 16, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.8M
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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