After a little break last week for birthday celebrations, which ironically included a trip to the cinema, Tuesday Night is Film Night is back with another film from our archives (also known as; "DVDs we get as presents on birthdays"!)
This week we are going to be;
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
Well that was a refreshing change! To paraphrase the synopsis provided on Amazon, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is about;
"..................with 21 days left until the end of the world. Insurance salesman Dodge (Steve Carell) is suddenly deserted by his wife and now has no idea how to spend his last remaining days. When a riot breaks out around his building, Dodge escapes in the car of his extraverted neighbour Penny (Keira Knightley). Seizing the moment, they embark on a hilarious road trip to reunite with their loved ones – Dodge with his long lost high school sweetheart and Penny with her family..........."
Just reading that is doesn't really enthrall the potential viewer does it? When in fact Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is a lot more that that simple synopsis.
We start the film with the news of the impending end of the world due to the impact of a huge meteor, heading ominously and certainly towards the earth. Dodge Petersen hears this news with his wife, who inexplicably runs off, leaving Dodge alone in the car. He heads home contemplating his own, time constrained future, when a chance meeting with his outgoing neighbour; Penny (Knightley) changes his future for the better. They discuss their past and their very short future and when the neighbourhood erupts with rioting they decide to head out of town to seek some happiness. Dodge discovers a letter that his childhood sweetheart sent him just a few months previously and realises that perhaps that is who he should be with. Penny would like to see her family again, but as they are in England that is going to be tricky, until Dodge says he knew somebody with a plane. So armed with these goals, they set off on a road trip.
That sounds all a bit twee, simple and sentimental, but you need to get past the necessary scene setting to enjoy the multiplicity of the storyline. The film seems to be promoted as an "hilarious roadtrip" comedy, which it isn't. It is more a romantic comedy, a feelgood (to a degree) journey through the short life and impending death of Dodge, Penny and those that they come into contact with. It is also the juxtaposition of the differing outlooks towards the bleak future. Some choose to drink and party themselves to their own oblivion, while others seek peace with family and friends. Some choose to fight the system and try to survive, others just fight each other.
Steve Carell is just perfect for the character of Dodge, at first very dour, introverted and lonely, but who then blossoms whilst with Penny. Penny on the other hand is the opposite, initially outgoing, but then when the enormity of the end of the world hits home, she seeks solace with the person who has helped her the most in the last few days, namely Dodge. Keira Knightley is just superb as Penny, outgoing, pretty and funny. The supporting cast are also very good, providing the laughs along the way, perhaps with not the amount of hilarity promised if you believe the reviews, but funny nonetheless. Martin Sheen is particularly good as Dodge's father.
So all in all a really good film to watch. The storyline is refreshingly different, the end of the world maybe nigh, but this ain't no disaster movie. It may have the tagline of "The apocalypse has never been so funny", but it is not an hilarious romp through the last few days on earth, it is a funny film, but with tender moments. It's a funny film, but some of that comedy is quite dark. It doesn't follow a formula, so you don't know where the story is going, you're not sure whether the next scene is going to be hilarious or an altruistic moment between Dodge and Penny.
Oh and the soundtrack is just superb, really brilliant music.
We enjoyed it and hopefully the scores will prove favourable.
TNiFN Rating 86%
IMDB Link
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