Who says the end of the world has to be so darn dreary? The world's apocalyptic fate has always been a popular movie subject, but in recent years it's become even more so. Thanks, Mayan calendar. Most of these films are either the "save the world" style disasters, or in the case of Lars Von Trier's Melancholia, an excuse for him to show just how screwed up we all are. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World takes a different approach, but one that will be familiar to fans of Lorene Scafaria, making her directorial debut. While not totally free from gloom, the film is more about hope than loss; about love rather than death; and living life to the fullest for as long as humanly possible.
Scafaria, who previously wrote the vastly underrated Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, has a difficult tightrope of emotions to walk with this film, but she pulls it off effortlessly. In every positive way that matters, the film feels almost like a companion piece to last year's The Descendants, capturing the randomness and unpredictability of life while also finding some genuine laughs amidst incredible turmoil. Starting off in the most depressing way imaginable, a lunar mission to destroy a hurtling asteroid has failed, and since Bruce Willis isn't around to save the day, the world must come to grips with its imminent destruction in just a few short weeks. Carell plays Dodge, a safe and good-natured doormat not all that dissimilar to his character in Crazy Stupid Love. In fact, they both experience the sudden heartbreak of loss as Dodge's wife(played by Carell's real wife) literally runs away from him without a word to be with the lover he never knew she had. Dodge's loneliness is palpable, and the rest of the film is basically a study in loneliness, as people seek to find a connection in their final moments with anyone they can.
Unlike the rest of the world, Dodge isn't freaking out on the outside, or even altering his routine all that much. He still goes to work, his maid still shows up to clean, and he seems content to just live out his days as quietly as possible. His friends, like married couple Warren(Rob Corddry) and Diane(Connie Britton), are quick to set him up with their eagerly single friend(the always charming Melanie Lynskey). To them, and many others, it's a "no holds barred" race to the apocalypse. If there are no consequences, what's the point in holding back?
Dodge is pretty miserable up until he meets Penny(Keira Knightley), his next door neighbor who appears to be in the same dumpy mood he is, if not worse. Quirky and a little bit manic, Penny and Dodge bond over their myriad issues. Faced with the world's end, she's looking none too fondly on the time she's wasted with her jerk of a boyfriend(Adam Brody). What's worse, everyone who truly loves her are across the pond in England, with no way to ever reach them. After discovering that Penny failed to give him a letter from an old high school sweetheart, Dodge decides to hit the road to be with her in his final moments. Penny tags along, of course, with Dodge promising to do his best to find her a flight out of the country.
You won't be surprised to know that Dodge and Penny discover more about themselves while bonding on this journey. Scafaria, who used the road trip theme to unique effect in Nick & Norah, makes even better use of it here. There's barely a moment in the film that isn't affecting in some way. Occasionally, the weight of the situation borders on the unbearable, while other times the film veers into raucous bouts of humor. Yet they are all well-informed glimpses at the ways people react to such unfathomable adversity. Some commit suicide; others retreat into their favorite restaurant and have wild sex orgies. Hey, everybody has a thing.
Scafaria continues her masterful use of mood music throughout, with The Beach Boys' 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' making for an oddly upbeat soundtrack for such an occasion. Others, such as the perfectly timed appearance of The Hollie's 'The Air That I Breathe' create a fuller, heartbreaking image that will be hard to forget. Truthfully, there is scarcely a moment that doesn't feel completely alive. Even the few scenes that don't quite click, like when we meet Penny's survivalist ex-boyfriend(Derek Luke), it's mainly because they don't quite fit the overall narrative.
Carell could probably play characters like Dodge in his sleep. The lovable sad-sack is his mastering art, and he's so good here that spending the final moment's on earth with him doesn't seem like such a bad idea. The same goes for Knightley, and it was surprising the level of chemistry she and Carell had as they seem like such totally different types of actors. The evolution of Dodge and Penny's relationship is a bittersweet one to watch, and there are plenty of times where the heartstrings get tugged pretty hard. It's to Scafaria's credit that none of it is forced, and every feeling the film pulls out of us is well-earned.
Many will probably spend much of the time wondering if the end of the world will actually happen, and that certainly won't be revealed here. In the end, it really doesn't matter. The journey is what counts, and Seeking A Friend for the End of the World is one of the most surprising and delightful of the year.
