Seeking a Friend for the End of the World [2012]
Directed by: Lorene Scafaria
Written by: Lorene Scafaria
Starring: Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Adam Brody, Connie Britton, Rob Corddry, Melanie Lynskey, Patton Oswalt, William Petersen, T.J. Miller, Gillian Jacobs, Martin Sheen, Rob Huebel, Mark Moses
The end of days is one of the best themes to deal with in film, I think. Impending apocalypse is a thoroughly interesting subject that can be explored in multiple ways and that can be adapted to any director or writer’s style.
Putting execution aside for a minute, War of the Worlds, Melancholia, The Road, 2012, among many others, work from intriguing premises and situations that give way to fascinating what-ifs.
As an account of the end of days from the perspective of two people, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World works. As a bittersweet, clever dramedy about the final weeks before Earth’s demise, it works too. As a romance, it fails miserably.
It’s there in the title: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, so when the relationship between Dodge and Penny (Carell and Knightley) takes a forced turn into romantic territory, it’s uncomfortable and unwelcome. The story didn’t ask for it and the actors share zero chemistry.
Carell, in another iteration of his tired, depressed loner character (after Little Miss Sunshine and Crazy, Stupid, Love., among others), doesn’t offer anything new. But his costar Keira Knightley shuns the stuffy gowns and shows impeccable comedic timing as the adorable Penny in one of the finest performances of 2012.
Bit parts and cameos by Adam Brody, Rob Corddry, Melanie Lynskey, William Petersen, T.J. Miller and Gillian Jacobs are fun but they ultimately can’t fix the disastrous (pun intended) romantic twist.
I like Steve Carrell, but I was unsure of seeing this one. I guess I’ll catch it on TV or rent if off Netflix. Nice review.
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Thanks. It’s good but I was just so turned off by the “romantic” twist.
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This is probably a rental for me, but the premise is one that always intrigues. Especially since the End-of-Days theme is a parable for our own individual human mortality. Fine look at this, Fernando.
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Thanks, Michael. Yes, that’s exactly why the end-of-days theme is so interesting.
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I like Steve Carell, I love Keira Knightley and I thought Lorene Scafaria’s previous screenplay for Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist was wonderful. However I absolutely no desire to see this and I can’t explain why.
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That happens. It’s a good movie, but it was all but derailed by the romantic angle.
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The reviews I’ve read for this one are VERY mixed. Some seem to love it, others, not so much. I may as well just see it myself. Good review.
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Thanks 🙂
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Fantastic review, you’ve really nailed the film here. I agree almost 100% with you, the only slight difference for me is that although the romance is unneeded, abrupt, and unwelcome – I don’t think it failed quite as badly as you suggest. I wish it hadn’t gone there and there wasn’t a whole load of chemistry between the two, but I felt that it had it’s moments and wasn’t completely unforgivable.
Also it’s great that you highlight Keira and her comedic timing, she completely surprised me here and I now just want to see her tackle other comedic material.
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Thanks, man! I see where you’re coming from, but I really didn’t like the love story at all. However, I would love to see Keira in more comedic roles. She was very good.
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Nice review Fernando! I agree that apocalypse makes for an interesting film premise and there are a lot of them I like but I’m not that interested in this one. Even in the trailer it’s obvious she and Carrell have no chemistry, that’s too bad as I generally like Carrell a lot. It’d be nice to see the underrated Melanie Lynskey in the lead role, I bet she’d be really good.
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Thanks, Ruth! I can see Melanie Lynskey in that role, definitely, but Keira was so good.
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Lynskey is always stuck playing supporting roles, I wish someone would give her a chance in the lead role. Nice to see Keira try her hand at comedy though.
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Nice review man. What’s your favourite ‘End of Days’ flick?
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Thanks. Probably The Road or Children of Men.
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I really liked this. I thought the 2 leads were fantastic and I’m not normally a Knightly fan. Good write up as always Fernando 🙂
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Thank you, Tyson! 🙂
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As you know, I wasn’t keen on this one Fernando. It just didn’t do anything for me. Nice write-up though.
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Thanks, Mark! As you can see, I quite liked it but I just couldn’t get past the unbelievable romantic twist.
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I was very charmed by this movie, it had flaws but for me it actually worked as a romance and I found the scenes between the two very sweet. I actually prefered Carrel here, loved his work here and his courage in the final scene.
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Thanks for commenting, Sati 🙂 I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree, hehe. After all, it’s all a matter of perception. But I’m glad you liked it.
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So bored by this one…thought it couldn’t decide to be a dark comedy or a light comedy. Ended up being boring.
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I thought it leaned more to the darker side. I actually wasn’t bored at all and quite liked the tone but I just didn’t dig the romantic angle it took at all.
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