Review of Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) by Erik D — 09 Sep 2015

I found this to be a very realistic take on how humanity would likely cope with a short-term wait for the end of the world. It raises the question: what's really important to you? Is it your routine (no matter how mundane)? Or is it family or long lost love?

This movie surprised me, but not because of the ending. This movie was never about the ending. It was about so much more than that. Both Steve Carell and Kiera Knightley were on point in their sincerity and delivered very solid performances. While there were certainly comedic moments during the movie, its message and the context of the movie allowed for those moments to be delivered in a very heartfelt and believable way.

Sadly, this movie will likely get by-and-large ignored because it's too real. It does not neatly fit into the categories of drama/romance/comedy/sci-fi/action. Instead, like life in the real world we live in, it incorporates all of them in some way. One reviewer said it was about the "two least interesting people in the world." Sad man... of the 7-something billion people in the world today, one would think every movie need not be about the <1% we all know by name. It seems that some are beginning to undervalue the worth of the normal/average individual. We don't all have vast fortunes or super-powers, and most have had no benefit of covert military training or genetic enhancements. In spite of our lack of these "requirements," we plebeians all have our own unique life stories, desires, and have just as many turning points in our lives that sometimes make us wonder "what if...".

If you want to watch a movie about two people seeking out what matters the most to them in their last few weeks of life, this movie will play with your emotions and leave you thankful for having spent the time watching it. Even if you're not materialistic, you may find yourself shaking your head about some of the stressors in your life and what they mean in the grand scheme of things.

This movie succeeds at eliciting deep thought using shallow devices and focuses on the stories of ordinary people who come to learn what really makes their world turn. Your reactions to this movie will vary depending on your own life experiences and what they have taught you to value, but no matter your point of origin or your current place in life, this movie should resonate in some meaningful way.