THE LAST SHIFT is a story about two men struggling with similar issues, while living in the same deadbeat town. Stanley (Richard Jenkins) is an aging fast-food worker who plans to call it quits after 38 years on the graveyard shift at a fast food restaurant. His last weekend takes a turn while training his replacement, Jevon (Shane Paul McGhie), a talented but stalled young writer whose provocative politics keep landing him in trouble. These two who share little in common are brought together through circumstance.  Stanley, a high school dropout who has watched life pass by his drive-through window, proudly details the nuances of the job. While Jevon, a columnist who’s too smart to be flipping patties, contends they are being exploited at the job. It’s a tale of two humans, seemingly different, yet very similar at the same time.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW

In his twilight years, Stanley is single, living with roommates, and existing by working the graveyard shift for $13.00 an hour. Jevon is a young twenty-something with an ex-girlfriend and a child, still living at home, and on probation. The pair meet when Stanley tells his boss that he’s going to have to leave his job that he’s held for almost four decades in order to go care for his ailing mother in Florida, while Devon has to find employment as part of his probation order. That’s pretty much the story line, so if you aren’t into slow-moving films with little to no action, then this isn’t for you.

Over the course of Stanley training Jevon, the two get to know each other, and learn from each other. Jevon’s ex moves out with their child, but eventually asks him to look after his son on weekends as she wants to pursue a career and attend college. There’s an incident that happens at work one evening before Stanley leaves that has repercussions on Jevon, causing him to get fired from his job. Stanley has some hardships, getting robbed by some thugs, and buying a used car that breaks down soon after he heads out. In the end Stanley returns back to his hometown, and when he spots Jevon on the bus, he gets off at the next stop. Jevon eventually gets back to his passion in life, writing, and Stanley ends up back flipping burgers. Yep, that’s it. It’s over.

THE LAST SHIFT opens in select Canadian theatres on Friday, September 25th.

 

 

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.