When most people hear the words "Last Christmas," Wham!'s lyrics to the popular holiday song follow. Little do audiences know that the lyrics ring truer than they'd think in this festive 2019 movie called "Last Christmas."

Nothing is going right for Kate (Emilia Clarke), a gifted singer who works as an elf at a year-round Christmas store. She dreams of landing a big break and applies for multiple auditions with no luck, so for now, she toils for the shop's crass yet warm owner (Michelle Yeoh), who has nearly given up on her. And her Yugoslavian family is a bit of a mess, including her chatty mother (Emma Thompson).

Sure enough, it's safe to assume her dating life is in shambles because the movie wastes no time in revealing that. Until one day she meets Tom (Henry Golding). He's a charming and curious man who dances funny to avoid bumping into people on the street, but he captures Kate's attention immediately. She finds herself whisked into romance, and she's falling for him fast. Is this too good to be true?

Last Christmas - Official Trailerwww.youtube.com

It's funny to see a movie get away with a predictable plot that drops plenty of hints throughout, but it wins over the hopeless romantics out there. Maybe because it knows how to make viewers sympathize and cry with the heroine, and that's all that can be said without ruining the movie.

As surprisingly sad as this movie is, it's also equally political. Kate's family fled Yugoslavia to start a new life in London, and there are derogatory lines like "speak English" that sound all too familiar. This plot device really creates another dimension of depth to Kate's upbringing and reasons for her mom's deep distrust of other people.

Clarke and Golding's chemistry is charming, but it's not enough to push this movie at the top with timeless holiday romantic comedies. However, Yeoh's character is a scene-stealer with every absurd Christmas decoration she picks up, and she deserves more screen time with those sarcastic one-liners.

Director Paul Feig is successful in capturing the spirit of Christmas in the film. The cinematography perfectly frames shots that feel contained in a whimsical snow globe with the holiday lights and all. Sprinkle in a couple of George Michael tunes here, some Christmas classics there and a bit of unexplained Christmas magic and the movie makes for one giant Christmas card.

But hidden behind this tree of a movie and its trimmings is a deeper meaning. Kate is recovering from an implied illness, and everything in life isn't going her way. And Christmas doesn't always make people feel better. For others who understand Kate, this movie might hit home when it comes to loving another and loving one's self.

Be prepared to see this movie with a stack of tissues. You've been warned.

"Last Christmas" gets a 7/10. The movie is in theaters on Friday, November 8, 2019.

Follow Samantha on Twitter at @_SamI520.