Though not exactly original, there is something charming about Steve Clark's 'The Last International Playboy' (aka 'Frost'). The story follows Jack Frost his playboy lifestyle is suddenly shaken by the news that his childhood love is engaged. As his friends struggle with their own issues, Jack sinks further into depression until he develops a friendship with Sophie, his eleven year old neighbour.
I enjoyed the scenes between Sophie and Jack. They were refreshing and unlike in most recent films, here the child isn't portrayed merely as some potato face who's trying to be cute or someone who's acting like an adult from whom the protagonist seeks advice (e.g. '500 Days of Summer'). Sophie is an eleven year old, a smart and mature one and that's exactly how India Ennenga plays her matching wits with Behr.
The story isn't difficult to follow, some of the dialogues are flat. While most of the characters are interesting, I felt that Carolina was poorly developed. She's supposed to be the love of Jack's life but comes across as a bitch. For example, knowing how Jack feels about her, she pushes him to join her fiancé's bookclub and even writes him a speech for her wedding while sabotaging his relationship with Kate. On the bright side, clichés are avoided and many scenes feel genuine rather than melodramatic. There are some wonderful lines as well. One that stuck by me was when Sophie tells Kate, 'You didn't say that he was empty. You said that he's broken. Isn't there a difference?'' The execution is good enough. The visuals are photogenic and the soundtrack is very likable. Technically the editing is adequate given the present material.
Jason Behr easily carries off the title role as the washed up writer playboy who's forced to dealing with losing the love of his life. Monet Mazur makes the best of what she's given. She and Behr have a warm chemistry and they're both convincing as two people who were once crazy in love. Mike Landry adequate as Jack's annoying friend. Except for a few initial sequences where she tends to go over the top, Krysten Ritter is brilliant. Lucy Gordon gives a memorable performance in one of her final films. India Ennenga is a delight to watch.
Overall, with the exception of a few sequences (that had poor dialogue), I found 'The Last International Playboy' to be quite likable.
