Seeking a Friend for the End of the World: Steve Carell's Quest to Get Laid Before an Asteroid Hits Earth
Here's a trailer for Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, the end of days, darkish comedy starring Keira Knightley and Steve Carell.
The most promising thing about this movie is the cast. With treasures like Patton Oswalt, Connie Britton, the under-used Melanie Lynskey, and Gillian Jacobs, Seeking is something I can get behind. Also, what's up, Adam Brody? This is your time to shine.
The film, written and directed by Lorene Scafaria (she's responsible for the screenplay for Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, so beware) follows unlikely friends Knightley and Carell during their final three weeks on Earth before it is destroyed by an asteroid. After his wife leaves him, Carell goes on a journey to find his high school sweetheart. He promises Knightley that he will get her home to her family in Manchestah if she goes with him.
It's in interesting premise (although asking someone to spend their last days on Earth focusing on a long lost high school sweetheart is a pretty substantial request), but it's hard to place Knightley and Carell's relationship. He seems too young to play the steadfast father figure, but a romantic relationship is both unappealing and unbelievable. That has less to do with Carell's looks and more to do with the general imbalance between movies like Bend It Like Beckham and Evan Almighty. And unless this wanders into precarious Lost In Translation territory, this will hopefully remain nothing more than a quirky friendship between two people who are able to both teach and learn from each other. (Aw.)
Or, they end up doing it. (Ew.)
The trailer is intriguing and fun, but the movie's promise ultimately depends on its ending. If the asteroid collides and life on earth ends, fine. If the movie ends just before the asteroid strikes and as the credits begin to roll, fine. Despite its morbid, contemplative subject matter, the film seems more like a Rom-Com. With that setup, the obliteration of the human race is its only way out.
Seeking is due out June 22.