Have you ever pondered how you would spend your last days after learning the world was coming to an end? Well that's exactly what happens in the film Seeking A Friend For the End of the World, starring Steve Carell (The Office) and Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean) as neighbors who become acquainted after hearing the devastating news.
Written and directed by Lorene Scafaria (Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist), this film is a romantic foray into the idea of completing your bucket list. The world has been informed that an asteroid is colliding with the earth and wiping out all life. Dodge (Steve Carell) tries to go on with life as usual including continuing to go to work at an insurance company selling policies. How ironic is that? After attending a friend's end of the world party, where everyone is exhibiting diverse ways of spending their last days from being wreckless and lawless to overindulging themselves, and doing or wearing things they never have had the opportunity to, like Karen (Melanie Lynskey) who attends the party in formal themed jewels including a tiara.
Melanie Lynskey and Steve Carell in "Seeking A Friend For the End of the World"
There have been end of the world films before from the gloomy "Deep Impact" (1998) starring Téa Leoni whose character is swept away by a massive wave while she embraces her father, to "2012" (2009) Starring John Cusack, a desperate father trying to get his family to safety amidst the world swallowing itself after a series of cataclysmic events.
In her directorial debut, Scafaria's film has a more personal story where the focus is not on the disaster, but the people. “Most end of the world films take the view of people trying to stop it, but I was really excited to take that epic backdrop and tell it through a very intimate story," Scafaria said in an interview. Don't expect to see mind-boggling special effects in this film. Instead you will experience mind-plaguing quandaries such as "Will I die alone?" or "Will I accomplish every thing I wanted out of life?" Oh, and don't forget all the what ifs like "What if I had married this guy?" or "What if I told her how I feel?"
This is the place Dodge finds himself when he starts to think of his high school sweetheart – the girl who got away – and learns she felt the same way about him. When riots insue and the city becomes chaotic, he sets out on a pilgrimage with Penny (Keira Knightley) a quirky, sometimes aloof young woman in her hybrid; on a quest to find his lost love and help reunite Penny with her family.
Keira Knighltey and Steve Carell in "Seeking A Friend For the End of the World"
This film will make you question the status quo of your life – as silly as it may seem, to evaluate one's life after watching a movie – it did, at least for me. It may even have you wondering if you have lived your fullest, most exciting existence and if in the same situation as Dodge and Penny, would you want to find that lost love or do the seemingly impossible? One thing for sure, It will definitely make you rethink settling, whether it be love, friendship, or even a career.
Watch my interview with Loren Scafaria HERE.
Chicly Yours,
The Chic Spy
