‘The Last Sunrise’ Review: A Sun-Drenched Romance That Struggles to Ignite

Amazon has been transforming “romance content” into a dependable summer staple, and ‘The Last Sunrise’ arrives just in time with all the expected elements. Set against the backdrop of Mallorca, this adaptation of Anna Todd’s 2025 novel, directed by Carlson Young, features a forbidden romance, an overprotective parent, and a ticking clock on a young woman’s health.

Maia Reficco stars as Oriah “Ry” Pera, a young woman whose life is meticulously controlled due to a serious illness, with her mother Isolde, played by Eva Longoria, ensuring she adheres to her medication schedule. During their trip to Mallorca, Ry encounters Julián, a local portrayed by Fernando Lindez, and begins to quietly break free from the rules that have governed her life.

This premise holds genuine promise, and at times, the film seems to recognize it. Reficco portrays Ry with a sense of restraint rather than melodrama, allowing her illness to inform her performance without turning every scene into an emotional outburst. The chemistry between her and Lindez feels authentic, carrying the film’s softer, quieter moments.

However, ‘The Last Sunrise’ often reaches for more dramatic moments than its foundation can sustain. Family secrets accumulate, and a subplot involving a wealthy outsider threatening to buy Julián’s family fishing business is introduced without much depth. The film relies on characters explaining plot developments rather than dramatizing them, making it feel less like a summer love story and more like a soap opera in the sun.

This tonal inconsistency is the film’s main issue. Movies like Under the Tuscan Sun work because their settings feel authentic and immersive. In contrast, Mallorca serves mainly as a picturesque backdrop, beautiful in isolated scenes but lacking depth, which undermines a story about a woman learning to embrace the moment. When the location fails to make a compelling case for itself, the romance built upon it falters as well.

Longoria brings a familiar, slightly campy intensity to Isolde, occasionally tipping the film into unintentional humor. Julián, while charming, never evolves beyond a mere symbol of the freedom Ry seeks, which diminishes the emotional investment in their relationship.

Where the film shines is in its smaller moments—the late-night talks and subtle gestures of intimacy that don’t require a dramatic score. Reficco and Lindez have the talent to make these scenes resonate, making it frustrating when the surrounding plot distracts from their chemistry.

Overall, ‘The Last Sunrise’ offers a pleasant way to spend an evening if you’re in the mood for this type of story, but it never fully realizes its potential as a poignant summer romance. The foundation is solid, the leads are likable, and the setting is stunning in parts, yet the film undermines its sincerity with contrived plot elements.

I left ‘The Last Sunrise’ wishing it had trusted its leads and setting enough to slow down, as the moments that do trust them are the most effective. It’s a film with a warm heart buried beneath excessive plotting, competent but not transformative, charming in segments without fully coalescing. I’m giving it 6 out of 10, a movie worth a lazy Saturday but not one that lingers.

Have you streamed ‘The Last Sunrise’ yet, and did Ry and Julián’s romance resonate with you? Share your thoughts in the comments if you agree with my assessment.