The Last Sunrise Review: In Prime Video’s latest adaptation of yet another Anna Todd novel, a young, sheltered woman finds herself challenging her strict upbringing when she is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Of course, the path to mental freedom is falling in love with the hottest boy around against the backdrop of beautiful Mallorca.
The film, much like every other in the genre, features similar characters and plot development, featuring a flat protagonist and a flatter love interest, doing the most obvious things that viewers might have become a bit too familiar with. The idea of not worrying about what comes next might feel fun and engaging, but the lack of realism is obvious, and viewers can only suspend their disbelief so many times with YA romantic dramas.
The movie stars Maia Reficco, Fernando Lindez, Eva Longoria, and Andrés Velencoso, and is directed by Carlson Young. The film, with a runtime of 106 minutes, is an adaptation of Anna Todd’s 2025 novel of the same name.
The Last Sunrise Review
A Romance About Making the Most of the Present
The idea of embracing the present and not thinking about the future is a very prevalent trope in YA dramas, wherein youngsters, with no idea of how the world works, think that one can just YOLO their lives and do whatever they want without facing any consequences. The Last Sunrise is somewhat the same, featuring a young woman with a terminal illness who refuses to take her medication, hoping to stay alive and party her pain away. While it’s cute on the surface, the reality of such a decision is rarely painless and often not without devastating effects.
Cue Julián, the picture-perfect local who helps Ry to live in the moment, which mostly centres around partying with friends, having sex and watching the sunrise. The film wants us to believe that Ry hasn’t seen a sunrise in her life, which is odd because you can see the sun rise in Texas if you wake up on time. Practical decisions aside, it’s hard to really focus on anything these kids are saying or doing because it just seems so obviously simplified and foolish that it’s tailor-made for a one-time watch.
The film also explores Ry’s relationship with her mother, another obvious trope in films like this. Played by Eva Longoria, who looks somewhat uninterested, Isolde is a no-nonsense businesswoman who wants the best for her daughter but is also a helicopter parent. The film’s justification for the latter is that she wants her daughter to have her meds on time… which, sure. The emotions are forcefully there, but none of it feels natural or genuine.
Maia Reficco and Fernando Lindez Lead the Romance
Maia Reficco plays Ry, and she’s mostly fine in the role, as is Fernando Lindez as Juliàn. Both of them look fantastic together, and against the beautiful backdrop of Mallorca’s gorgeous beaches, everything looks ten times prettier. However, both of these characters have very little depth, and it’s difficult to truly feel their emotions because they seem unsure of who they are. While Ry’s struggles are real, there’s not much she is given to work with when it comes to background or depth. Same with Lindez, who is simply eye candy in the film. I mean, seriously, we see his butt far too many times.
Mallorca Is More Than Just a Backdrop
The Last Sunrise movie uses the beautiful Mediterranean atmosphere to drive its central idea home, and it’s not difficult to find yourself wanting to soak in the warmth of the beautiful beaches and towns. The sunny location and summer vibes create an interesting contrast with Ry’s personal struggles but also provide hope in a hopeless situation. It’s clearly designed to be a warm, escapist summer romance that doesn’t want to really dwell on the heavier themes or the consequences of not making adult choices.
But, in the End, What’s New?
This is perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy a YA summer romance without burdening themselves with heavier and more difficult topics. The film is one of those forgettable book-to-screen adaptations that are fun for a one-time watch. There’s hardly any depth or nuance in the storytelling, and the characters and situations are too flat to bring out any particular feeling in the viewers. It’s a half-baked watch that doesn’t really do anything other than give viewers a few hours of something to take their minds off things.
Although we see a ton of similar movies and shows, there’s just something very stale about this film that is becoming a bit too familiar these days. While the central story might be obvious, the way the story is presented and the lack of character development or depth is what makes The Last Sunrise so annoyingly boring. Overall, there’s nothing that particularly stands out about this film that would differentiate it from others.
Final Verdict
The Last Sunrise has all the ingredients of a bittersweet summer romance that doesn’t have what it takes to create an impact. Overall, it’s a forgettable watch with nothing memorable or unique. The leads are gorgeous and look great together, but their characters are quite flat to make much of an impact.
The Last Sunrise is streaming on Prime Video. What did you think about this Anna Todd adaptation? Let us know in the comments below!
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