Shirley MacLaine Proves It’s Never Too Late to Change Your Story in ‘The Last Word’

Sandra Miska

Hollywood legend Shirley MacLaine stars as an eccentric wealthy woman facing her own mortality in the comedy “The Last Word,” one of the many films screened at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. From the first scenes in which she is seen bossing around her hired help, it is apparent that her character, Harriet Lauler, is something of a control freak. If there was any doubt of her need to always be in the driver’s seat, it disappears after she takes it upon herself to have her own obituary written while she is still alive. The idea comes to her following an “accident” involving wine and pills. Seeing how glowingly some of her recently deceased contemporaries are described in the death notice section of her local paper, deservedly or not (i.e. a woman who took in homeless dogs for company because her fellow humans hated her is praised for her love of animals), Harriet takes it upon herself to make sure she gets the same treatment. Her wealth and the status she achieved in her former career gets her in at the local paper, as the owner, Ronald (Tom Everett Scott), who is anxious due to the slow death of print media, readily accommodates her in the hopes of being left a hefty sum.

Amanda Seyfried plays Anne Sherman, the obituary writer who begrudgingly takes on Harriet and sees to interviewing the list of her associates, whom Harriet seems to think will sing her praises. When the opposite happens, Harriet takes it upon herself to change her life at 81, taking Anne along for the ride. She figures out that there are there are four key elements in a winning obit: loving remembrance from family, kind words from colleagues, a story of the deceased touching the life of someone less fortunate (bonus if said disadvantaged person is a minority or disabled) and a wild card. The latter two are surprisingly easy to achieve, as Harriet sets about mentoring an at-risk African-American child, foul-mouth troublemaker Brenda (AnnJewel Lee) and gets a job as a deejay at a local independent radio station. Mending personal relationships proves to be a bit harder, although Harriet does succeed in helping Anne get together with charming radio station manager Robin (Thomas Sadoski). After Harriet comes up short in her own personal life, Anne takes it upon herself to organize a reunion between her and her daughter Elizabeth (Anne Heche), the result being a darkly comedic scene in which it is revealed that the need to control did not skip a generation.

“The Last Word” is stocked full of the type of clichés found in films meant to be heartwarming, although the sprinkling of f-bombs keep away the family friendly label. However, Harriet is far from a one-note character, as Anne herself learns as she interviews people like Harriet’s ex-husband Edward (Philip Baker Hall), her former colleague Joe (Joel Murray) and discovers how the persona that have earned the older woman the reputation of a dragon lady were developed as defense mechanisms in order for her to succeed as a pioneering female business owner. MacLaine, with her knack for playing strong and funny woman, is perfectly cast, as is Seyfriend, who is believable as a millennial who has put her dreams to the side as she has become complacent in a steady job. The younger actress’ impressive ability to cry on cue also doesn’t hurt. In addition to having a positive message about it never being too old to change, “The Last Word” also boasts an impressive soundtrack of rock classics, particularly from Harriet’s favorite band, The Kinks.

“The Last Word” opens in select theaters March 3.