The world is going to end. Get used to that idea and you’ll do just fine. Don’t like death? Don’t linger here. Yeah, it looks like a comedy, but, hey, layers.
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is the most thoughtful film I’ve seen this year. There’s no end to the questions raised: What would you do with your last days? Who would you spend them with? Would you have any capacity for small talk? Would you treat anybody with decency or kindness? Would you find religion? Would you give your boss the finger and then fling yourself out a window? Would you bother following the rules of the road? So many choices. So many bad decisions to make.
Steve Carell plays Dodge; it’s as perfect a movie name as they come. His life is a Dodge – not from responsibility, but from connection. In the opening moments, we find Dodge and wife Linda in a car listening to the bad news that mankind has three weeks left to cash those lottery tickets. Linda sprints from the car never to be seen again; the last thing she wanted to do was spend her last three weeks on Earth with her husband. Ouch.
This leaves Dodge in a quandary. You can’t just check out by yourself on Armageddon Day. Who’s your apocalypse buddy?
Everybody needs an apocalypse buddy.
Keira Knightley is Penny. We meet her crying on a fire escape. It’s a pretty good bet that if you ever find yourself bundled up in misery on a fire escape, your life choices have not all been winners. Penny is a bit of a flake. She has missed the last flight to England to die among hers. The incentive for anyone to do his or her job has departed with humanity’s potential. Hence, every flight has flown; every call has been made. I’m surprised the electricity and water still work. When Dodge offers comfort, Penny counters, “I won’t steal anything if you don’t rape me.” Even at the end of the world, there is compromise.
Of course, this is the end of the world, so naturally there’s looting. Why, people? Why? I’m not even questioning the screenplay here; I KNOW the apocalypse would come with looting. Actually, I’m pretty surprised at how cynical this film isn’t. I’m pretty sure the only thing containing about 10 million potential Rambos in this country alone is the fact that tomorrow exists. When the looting reaches Dodge and Penny, it’s time to bolt. This is a much better buddy picture premise than most. I don’t know if Steve Carell, Keira Knightley or rookie writer/director Lorene Scafaria are going to get any attention for this film, but they ought to.
Seeking a Friend completely jolted me twice and twice also brought me to tears. I especially loved the moment when an overofficious cop jails the pair for speeding. The ONE GUY left in the world still doing his job is a jackass. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
The world is ending/With whimper? No, bang
Get those last sins in/before Reaper clang
Question on table/until souls go free
Who would you end with/Carell or Knightley?
Rated R, 101 Minutes
D: Lorene Scafaria
W: Lorene Scafaria
Genre: The lighter side of Armageddon
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: End of the world enthusiasts
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: People who fear death
