The Last Word

— Obsessive, compulsive, perfectionist Shirley MacLaine doesn’t appear to have much of a life but she does have plenty of money. Unwilling to leave anything to chance, she strong arms the newspaper editor to have their obituary writer write her obituary so she can make sure it does her justice. The only problem is that no one has a kind word to say so she embarks on a four-prong attack to rewrite her life so people will admire her, her family will love her, she’s made a difference in at least one life, and she has some unexpected trait or talent that adds distinction to her life. The only problem is that the fun of her tart, blunt, unfiltered remarks at the beginning of the film slowly disappears as she moves from mean-spirited to quirky, even lovable. It’s a role we’ve seen Shirley MacLaine play before and her talent is really why this film doesn’t fail. Her timing is still impeccable and there’s still a twinkle in her eye. I’ve always liked her and it’s just a shame there aren't better roles for someone of her age and talent.

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[2017. 108 min. Directed by Mark Pellington. Starring Shirley MacLaine, Amanda Seyfried, and AnnJewel Lee Dixon.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-last-word-2017