Have you ever wondered what you would do if your doctor said you had three weeks left to live? Imagine what it would be like if every single person on earth was given similar news on the same day: y'all have three weeks before a giant asteroid strikes the earth. That is the scenario facing the characters in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.
When the last space shuttle sent to the asteroid explodes en route, humanity knows its days are numbered. People react in different ways. Dodge (Steve Carell), abruptly abandoned by his wife, wanders through his daily routine in a benumbed daze; those around him are drinking, bonking, looting and/or committing suicide. He then meets Penny, who inspires Dodge to look for his childhood sweetheart. In return, Dodge tries to help Penny get back to her folks in England. So starts their road-trip and the exploration of their characters.
Carell gives us a nice, quiet and understated portrait of a nice, quiet and understated Dodge. Knightley's Penny is a more complex, deep and energetic character than Dodge. Despite their differences, the two forge an amicable and functional alliance. Luckily for them, Dodge and Penny confront no real trials (apart from their 21 day deadline).
It may have been better for us if they had, just to spice things up a bit; however, there were enough quirks of various kinds in this movie to make it both enjoyable and confronting. It's just a pity that the story was not of the same calibre as the question it poses. You can't win them all.
What did Shakespeare say? "Gently to hear, kindly to judge our play." I did enjoy this movie and I am glad that I saw it; it deserves more than a passing grade. 6.5 out of 10
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