“I’m not a survivalist, I’m an optimist!”
Lorene Scafaria’s directorial debut shows promise, with her
background as a screenwriter penning Nick
and Norah’s Infinite Playlist her knack for writing a funny line and
setting up some amusing and poignant scenes is clear. The soundtrack suits the
pensive mood for an end of the world setting and though it falls on the
sentimental side it works. Scafaria mixes apocalyptic mind set with road trip adventure
and the jovial tone works extremely well for the first half of the film. Unfortunately
the “friend” aspect of the film is lost to a romantic storyline between the two
lead characters, Dodge (Steve Carrell) and Penny (Keira Knightley).
There are 21 days left until a meteor hits the earth. Dodge
has been abandoned by his wife and Penny regrets her life as a serial
monogamist. Both are reflecting on their lives and their misspent ways when
Penny stumbles through Dodge’s apartment window and they first meet despite
being neighbours for years. Dodge looks
to his first love whereas Penny is looking to reconnect with her family and
they both take to the road in search of the void in their lives. Disconnect,
loneliness and lack of community spirit are the themes explored, but what it
all comes down to is the question, “what would you do if the world was about to
end? “ Priorities are changed and rules are thrown out the window making a
marvellous first hour of viewing. The
pair cling on to the only pillar of hope they can which is the promise of
fulfilment through human connection. With material items losing value a
relationship formed on the road steers these two to their obvious end.
This is an end of the world comedy that after a strong start
takes a turn into romantic schmaltz. For
the most part Scafaria’s strong, witty script keeps the momentum chugging
along. People taking
drugs, letting their kids get drunk, engaging in promiscuous sexual activity
and basically all the conduct of a society on the edge are presented in an exceptionally
funny way. Dodge and Penny don't feel fully developed as characters, and though both Carrell and Knightley give good performances, it is hard to believe in their forming relationship. Though mostly charming, it seems to lose the
comedic, laid back vibe half way through in favour of mainstream predictability
with the emphasis moved from friendship to amorous sentimentality.
Released in the UK on 13th July
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