The Last Five Years

Released only in around three-dozen theaters in the late winter of 2015, around a simultaneous release on VOD, The Last Five Years isn't so much a forgotten film as one the vast majority of potential viewers were never aware of. Adapted from the stage musical of the same name, based on the playwright's own experiences, the film follows the highs and lows of the relationship between struggling actress Cathy (Anna Kendrick) and successful author Jamie (Jeremy Jordan) in a rather unusual way.

Presenting the totality of their relationship from two different perspectives, The Last Five Years starts Cathy's story at the end and Jamie's story at the beginning with the interconnected stories meeting at the same moment somewhere in the middle. Despite the memorable set up, the mixed results met with criticism from both audiences and critics and never really made a dent in the larger consciousness.

I'd suspect the intriguing concept may work better on stage than screen, where at times things do get a bit clunky. That said, Kenrick and Jordan do shine in the roles they are given, although I don't know if starting Kendrick's performance of the best song of the entire film ultimately did The Last Five Years any favors setting expectations that wouldn't be met by the rest of the musical performances. Available on streaming, for specifically fans of Kendrick in the mood to see her in another musical that's not a Pitch Perfect sequel, it may be worth seeking out.

• Title: The Last Five Years
• IMDb: link