The film “Seeking a Friend for the End of the Earth” has several interesting things going for it aside from its ridiculously long title. Writer and director Lorene Scafaria takes a very familiar movie subject but looks at through a very unique and compelling lens. She tosses some romance and some humor into her story and allows her two lead performers the room to bring it all to life. These cool nuances are what initially drew me to this picture. It’s such a shame that it didn’t work nearly as well as it should have.
The clever and funny opening scene really got my hopes up and it sets an interesting tone. Dodge Peterson (Steve Carell) and his wife Linda (played in the film by his real life wife Nancy Carell) are sitting in their car listening to a news update on the radio. The DJ tells of a failed last-ditch effort to stop a 70 mile wide asteroid from crashing into Earth and ending the world. The two find out that the asteroid (strangely named Matilda) is expected collide with the planet in only three weeks. The DJ ends the report by saying “For your up to the minute coverage of the countdown to the end of days along with all your classic rock favorites, Q107.2”. A Beach Boys tune follows the devastating news and Nancy opens the car door and leaves Dodge on the spot.
From there Dodge is basically a rudderless ship. He’s a man who looks like he’ll spend the final few days of Earth’s existence alone, that is until he sees his neighbor Penny (Keira Knightley) crying outside his apartment window. She’s an eccentric girl who left her loser boyfriend Owen (Adam Brody) and has just realized she has missed the last of the flights to England where her family lives. Dodge brings her inside which begins a quirky but appealing little relationship. As the apocalypse nears these two lost souls set out together, each after for something different but neither able to see that what they want is right in front of them.
The movie begins pretty strong, using its unique perspective in several funny and intriguing ways. Unfortunately the comedy flames out as the movie progresses and I couldn’t help but think that Scafaria played all of her cards in the first half. There are some interesting questions and subtle examinations wrapped up in the movie’s hit and miss humor. We see people’s reaction to the impending end of days range from shameless hedonism to rioting and violence. But the movie also tinkers with smaller questions and in many ways these were the better moments for me. There are also funny little mentions of End of the World awareness concert and opportunistic high premium Armageddon insurance packages. But there aren’t enough of these moments as the movie progresses.
But this film isn’t a total write-off mainly due to the unlikely and offbeat chemistry of the two leads. Carell is in familiar territory and his nerdy, square peg Dodge seems right up his alley. But his performance is more subdued which I found to be more effective. The bigger surprise was Knightley who showed a nice comedic side. These two are asked to move back and forth between comedy and deeper drama which they handle beautifully. The drastic shifts in tone don’t always help the film but the performers nail it. Many have criticized the ending which is soaked in sentimentality. For some it’s popular to treat sentiment in movies like a curse word. I don’t agree with that and while it is a little heavy here, I think it does work in the end.
So what do I make of a movie with tone issues, a draggy middle, and inconsistent humor but that still manages to entertain? “Seeking a Friend for the End of the Earth” has its share if flaws but its also has several things that really sold me on what Scafaria was going for. So this was a mixed bag for me. It’s a film worth checking out but you just may leave with the feeling it could have been so much more. I know I did.
keithandthemovies.com 
If you can’t be sentimental at the end of everything, there is not much hope for us. The fact that they eventually find hope in being together while the End is coming should be cause for rejoicing. What nihilistic viewer would want to spend two hours watching these two struggle and then feel that their plight means nothing?
Yep, I agree. It didn’t bother me here. I just wish the movie was a bit more steady and consistent.
Me! Lol!
It gets very dramatic and sentimental at the end, which I guess was deserved because it’s the end of the world after all, but it seems a bit uneven, especially when you take the whole first-thirds of its jokey-approach into question. Still, it was relatively amusing. Good review Keith.
Relatively amusing is a great way to put it. Not bad but not one I will rush to see again soon.
Good review man, I enjoyed myself quite a lot in this. Certainly had some problems but it was mostly a success for me, just to see how well Knightley and Carell worked together. As you observed. Glad we’re together on that one!
They really had a surprisingly good chemistry didn’t they? And it certainly had its moments.
I was very disappointed in this one bro. You’re right in saying it started well. I really enjoyed the opening and expected big things but it became tediously uneventful and dragged towards its conclusion. It didn’t help, that I’m not a massive fan of the leads either. Carrel is passable but I really can’t stand Knightley.
I really felt it fell off pretty severely towards the end. I still had some fun with it but I still think it could have been a lot more. Thanks buddy.
I have to agree with you. I thought Knightley was a terrible choice for the role and add to the unevenness of the wfilm as a whole.
Added.
Knightley is an interesting actress. I actually think she’s pretty good but she seems to need a very specific kind of role. There have been things I thought she was really good in and then there were things where she fell kind of flat.
I’d agree. I generally find her annoying but she has had some very good performances. This was not one od them.
Do you get the sense that she tends to over act sometimes?
Absolutely and she can get stuck into this one startled duck facial expression that seems to serve for about 20 different emotions.
I’m with ya. That’s the feeling she often times leaves me with.
Nice review mate. Haven’t caught this one, looks like a decent bit of light entertainment. I’d probably give it a watch if it was on TV.
Yep check it out. But no need to move it to the top of your list! 🙂
I like Steve Carell and I remember being puzzled by Keira’s casting here. Not sure she was right for the part to be honest.
It’s an interesting pairing or sure. It’s just a shame that it’s such an an uneven movie. There were parts I really responded to. Overall it’s a little too inconsistent though. Shame.
That’s too bad that it’s so uneven, but I wasn’t too enthused by the trailer to begin with.
Your thoughts were right although it is worth a rental. Just don’t put it ahead of anything you really want to see.
It seemed promising, could have been great, but I didn’t care for Keira in this role. After watching her in ‘A Dangerous Method’ I am beginning to think she is overrated. And I LOVED her in the movie ‘Pride and Prejudice’.
It seemed promising, could have been great, but I didn’t care for Keira in this role. After watching her in ‘A Dangerous Method’ I am beginning to think she is overrated. And I LOVED her in the movie ‘Pride and Prejudice’.
She’s a tough one to gauge for sure. She was also great in Never Let Me Go. Sadly she isn’t always that good.
It seemed promising, could have been great, but I didn’t care for Keira in this role. After watching her in ‘A Dangerous Method’ I am beginning to think she is overrated. And I LOVED her in the movie ‘Pride and Prejudice’.
Nice review Keith. I liked it too. It kinda hit that sentimental button strong and was a great ending. I liked it too.
It was enjoyable. It just left me feeling that it could have even been better!
I had started watching this on the plane last year but never finished. Huge fan of Keira Knightley and Steve Carell. Definitely should 🙂
Awesome review!
Thanks! Always appreciate your comments. Give it a shot. It certainly has its share of good moments. I just can’t help but feeling it should have been better.
You know that was the issue I had. I really liked the start like the wife running off…but then it just was so slow. After that, I fell asleep and woke up to see the ending…haha! So, thats one of the reasons I haven’t gone back to watch it. I’m trying to erase the ending first from my memory…
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