I feel drained. Emotionally drained. Ugh so much feeling in this movie and I so want to spoil the whole thing but I can't, I just can't do that to you guys.
But I think its safe for me to say I went through some emotional turmoil watching this movie, regular readers of this blog (and those who actually know me, same people I'm guessing) should know that I am fairly sensitive to these types of things - I'm the kind of person who tears up at adverts about washing up - so the admittance that I feel drained should have no bearing on how anyone else will feel.
The story is about the apocalypse funnily enough, and a road trip to find lost love. Steve Carell plays Dodge, an insurance broker who is still going to work despite his wife running away upon the announcement that there is definitely only three weeks left until an asteroid hits the Earth, estimated to destroy all life. Keira Knightley is his slightly eccentric neighbour Penny that he has never said more than two words to in three years, until the night she sits on the fire escape in tears outside his window.
They join up to go on a road trip to find Dodge's first love and a way for Penny to get back to England and her family. They meet a variety of characters, get arrested, and find their way to themselves. And that is where I'm leaving it.
Carell and Knightley are magnificent in their respective roles, and the supporting cast flesh out the story nicely.
Writer/director Lorene Scafaria does a better job with this one than indie movie Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, perhaps because she was directing this time so had more control, or likely that it wasn't Michael Cera in a lead role so didn't annoy me. Carell's Dodge is representative of probably half the world, someone who didn't quite get their life right and don't want to be forced into a new one just because the world is ending.
In fact what I liked about this film was that I can imagine if the world were to end that it would play out like this. People would stick to routine until the point of explosion, when they would riot or else commit suicide. Marriages would become dispensable and drugs entirely acceptable. Oh and children would get drunk - yeah that happens in this film.
This film is sad, dramatic, endearing, violent, and sweet. If you enjoy Carell in dramatic roles (Dan in Real Life, Little Miss Sunshine) and want to see Keira Knightley not in a period drama I think you'll love this film as much as I did.
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