The Last Shift

The Last Shift is a touching comedy-drama film that premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2020. The movie was directed by Andrew Cohn, who also wrote its screenplay. The Last Shift tells a heartwarming story of two men from different walks of life whose worldviews collide.

The movie starts with Stanley (Richard Jenkins), a longtime fast-food worker at Oscar's Chicken and Fish, preparing for his last day on the job. He has worked there for 38 years and is about to retire. However, before he leaves, he must train his replacement, a young African-American man named Jevon (Shane Paul McGhie).

Jevon is a college dropout and aspiring writer who can't afford to pay for his tuition anymore. His only choice is to work at Oscar's Chicken and Fish to make ends meet. Jevon is excited about the opportunity but soon realizes the job is not as straightforward as he expected. Stanley starts training Jevon, and it quickly becomes apparent that their worldviews are vastly different.

Stanley is a white man in his sixties who has been working at the same job for almost four decades. He is laid-back and content with his mundane life, but he also has prejudices that he doesn't realize are harmful. On the other hand, Jevon is a young African-American man who has grown up in a world that has taught him to be skeptical of white people. He's ambitious, hard-working, and full of new ideas, but he's struggling to find his place in the world.

The movie explores the relationship between these two men as they spend Stanley's last shift working together. The dynamic between them is initially tense, with Stanley being hesitant to open up to the young Jevon. However, as the night goes on, they start to understand each other better, and their friendship begins to grow.

Both characters are dealing with their own unique challenges. Stanley is struggling to come to terms with the fact that he's retiring and is forced to face the fact that he doesn't have much to show for his life. Jevon, on the other hand, is trying to balance his desire to become a writer with the need to make ends meet. Both men have dreams and aspirations that they've put on hold, and as they work together, they begin to realize that they both want the same things in life.

The Last Shift is a thought-provoking movie that tackles some difficult issues, such as race, class, and privilege. While it's not overly preachy or political, it's clear that the film is trying to make a statement about the world we live in. However, it does so in a subtle and nuanced way that doesn't come across as heavy-handed. The Last Shift is also filled with humor, heart, and relatable characters that will make you root for them.

Overall, The Last Shift is a heartwarming and timely movie that explores the relationship between different generations and races. It's a movie that is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever had to say goodbye to a job or work with someone who sees the world differently than they do. Richard Jenkins and Shane Paul McGhie deliver standout performances as two men who form an unlikely bond and find common ground in a world that can often be divisive. If you're looking for a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on the complexities of the world we live in, The Last Shift is definitely worth watching.