RADiUS has already snatched up the North American rights to Richard LaGravenese’s The Last Five Years and scheduled it to go head-to-head with Fifty Shades Grey on Valentine’s Day 2015, so the promotional effort is underway and now we've got the very first clip from the film.

The Last Five Years is based on the off-Broadway show and stars Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan as Cathy Hyatt and Jamie Wellerstein.  The narrative covers their entire five-year relationship, but while Jamie’s portion starts when they first meet, Cathy’s goes in reverse, kicking off with the end of their marriage and moving backwards.  Hit the jump to check out The Last Five Years clip.

The Last Five Years already screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, so reviews are popping up all over the place and a lot of them praise Kendrick and Jordan’s work, but they criticize the rudimentary romance and some also go after the camerawork as well, and you’ll be able to see why in the clip below.  Kendrick’s singing is sensational, as always, but the lyrics are cheesy to say the latest and the visuals don’t do much to enhance the moment either.

Via EW.

 

Here’s the official synopsis for The Last Five Years:

“THE LAST FIVE YEARS is a musical chronicling a love affair and marriage taking place over a five year period.  Jamie Wellerstein (Jordan) is a young, talented up and coming novelist who falls in love with Cathy Hiatt (Kendrick), a struggling actress.  Their story is told almost entirely through song.  All of Cathy’s songs begin at the end of their marriage and move backwards in time to the beginning of their love affair, while Jamie’s songs start at the beginning of their affair and move forward to the end of their marriage.  They meet in the center when Jamie proposes.”

The Last Five Years Clip