Review of Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) by Neil R — 23 Mar 2015

Some of Steve Carrell's more serious work is underrated, imho ('Dan in real life'), as I think he is a master of comic pathos. 'Seeking a friend' is another fine turn from the man, but his character is underwritten and the chemistry between him and Keira Knightley is improbable and doesn't carry the weight needed to match the apocalypse this throwing-together of lives is predicated on.

There are some mildly amusing bits but it's tonally jarring (sudden headshot, anyone?) and feels underdeveloped and languorous. I actually found the most moving part to be the newsreader who punctuated the impending doom with increasingly valiant and lonely broadcasts.

Carrell and Knightley are really excellent, though, and they definitely make the film worth watching, with all its deficiencies.