The Last Word (2017)

A wealthy woman (Shirley MacLaine), who's also a bit of a control freak, engages the young obituary writer (Amanda Seyfried) of the local newspaper to write her obituary while she's still alive. But while interviewing friends and family of the woman, the obit writer discovers that everybody can't stand her and no one has a good word to say about her! Directed by Mark Pellington. It's always a pleasant surprise when a movie you went in expecting mediocrity turns out to be a pretty decent movie. In spite of a weak third act (weak but still effective), MacLaine shines in a role that seems tailor made for her and she has a nice chemistry with Seyfried. Seyfried is fine but make no mistake about it, this movie belongs to MacLaine. Instead of going somewhere daring or at least fresh, the film retreats to the safety of what we've seen before which is a pity. But it's still a nice trip. With Anne Heche, Phillip Baker Hall, Tom Everett Scott and AnnJewel Lee Dixon.