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Lisa Ann Cockrel (Christianity Today Movies) writes, "[I]t's going to be tempting for some to herald The Last Kiss as a movie for our moment, a cinematic snapshot of the way we live and love now. This is true insofar as it captures the affects of our prolonged adolescence (30 is the new 21!) and our idolization of youth (read: no one wants to be an adult) on the institution of marriage. The movie also illuminates the unsteady foundations so many relationships seem to rest upon these days, regardless of their duration (as evidenced by the increasing number of marriages dissolving after 20-plus years)."

"And yet," she adds, "the movie often transitions clumsily between comedy and drama, and at times the characters act out of motivations that seem absurdly skewed. … In the end, I think the movie would have also done well to balance the romantic angst it presents with at least one couple that was cheerfully together and had a healthy relationship over a long run."

Christopher Lyon (Plugged In) says the filmmakers "can be lauded for showing masculine immaturity for what it is: selfish, fearful and weak. Whether at 20, 30 or 40, most guys have struggled with the idea of trading independence for commitment, domestic responsibility for lost youth. … What's frustrating, then, is the filmmakers' determination to display graphic extramarital sex scenes as part of the package. It's almost as if they're saying, 'See how great wanton sex can be; what a jerk you'd be to do this.' Worse, the commitment of marriage itself is nearly discounted."

David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) says, "In holding up a mirror to postmodern love and its accompanying anxieties, Goldwyn does provide some modest observations about flawed humanity—especially the way we learn from our mistakes and how actions have consequences—but, on a whole, the characters read as more selfish than sympathetic."

Many mainstream critics are ready to kiss this one off.

Christa Banister (Crosswalk) says, "what are supposed to be 'real' and 'gritty' portrayals of modern relationship woes come off as nothing more than the rotten fruit that results when people only focus on themselves. And if the one-dimensional, whiny characters weren't bad enough, there's the horrendous dialogue that's as clunky as most 16-year-olds' first car."

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