Seeking a Friend For the End of the World

It's the end of the world as we know it, (and I feel fine)...

Fighting... urge.........to write... dirty euphemism!

DIRECTOR: Lorene Scafaria

CAST: The 40 year old virgin and the posh bitch from Pirates of the Caribbean (who. I. love!!! <3) 

PLOT: It's 3 weeks until the end of the world, prompting Dodge (Steve Carell) and Penny (Keira Knightley) to embark on a somewhat epic road trip in which they both attempt to tie off any loose ends in their lives full of failed romance.

It's a question which I would bet 99% of the western population has thought about - 'If you knew the world was ending, what would you do with your final days?' Whether it be score a fuck load of drugs, have lots of unprotected sex or punch everyone you've ever hated in the groin repeatedly, it's definitely fair to say that none of us would have the faintest idea what we would actually do, unless the terrible, yet inevitable situation, was to present itself.

In saying all this, one of the biggest importances to us mere humans, with our stupid emotions, seems to lie with deciding who we would want to spend our final moments with, not really caring what the activity is that you're doing with them. Come on, if you really wanted to go bungee jumping, you would've done it by now, wouldn't you?

Most people's ideal person to spend their last days with wouldn't be with Steve Carell's fantastically underplayed Dodge, which is exactly the reason why the opening is simply a brilliant, prone shot of his wife fleeing away from him as if he was rapist, whilst the camera lingers on him blankly staring out of his car window, having just heard on the radio that the end is nigh. However, despite not arguably making the most of the end of the world, you can't help but have a massive amount of respect for Dodge as he turns down sex with his obnoxious best friend's MILF of a wife and free heroin all in one night. He just gets on with it in his own sad way, refusing to play along with party guests as they all go around the table and explain to one another how they're going to spend their last days, with bland answers down the lines of eating what you want without feeling guilty. Instead he goes to work. He watches TV. He buys more cleaning product for his stereotypically Mexican cleaner...
 
That is until he meets Keira Knightley's pot smoking, quirk-riddled 'Penny' of course, who gets some cracking dialogue from a strong script; a beautful example being when she replies to Dodge's invitation into his home - 'I won't break anything if you don't rape me.' Penny would be most people's ideal friend for the end, (not because of that, you perv!), simply because she's impulsive, bubbly and a little bit weird. Ultimately, Knightley shows a surprising talent for comedy, thrusting herself head-first into the role, seemingly having alot of fun along the way as she finds chemistry with her A-list co-star from the first meeting. The unlikely duo are relied on heavily to carry a film with very minor bit-part characters ranging from a surprise meeting with Uncle Ben to an adorable dog, (because every indie flick needs a pet).

However, the film's pace slows very soon after a fun scene at a restaurant called 'Friendsie's' ('Where everyone's your friend!'), as Lorene Scafaria begins to send the friend-seeking pair to some bland destinations, such as Penny's survivalist-ex-boyfriend's house, that should deliver a lot more laughs. As Scafaria's narrative begins to get lost, so do the characters, and we are reduced to listen to tedious conversations about how much they regret the fact that they've lived better lives in their final days when compared to the rest of their insignificant lives. Luckily, the two leads are so likable, they just about keep our attention until the gut-wrenching final scenes.

The first-time director shows promise and confidence as her film follows Dodge and Penny trying to deal with global annihilation in their own screwed up way. As you'd imagine from Scafaria, the talent responsible for adapting Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, she makes damn-well sure that this film has an enjoyably kick-ass soundtrack. Songs such as The Beach Boy's 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' and The Hollies' 'The Air That I breathe' compliment the darkly comedic vibe nicely. Plus, the bittersweet ending will stick with you, it's nice to see Scafaria doesn't pussy-out of the inevitable conclusion, when so many other filmmakers would have forced a way.

OVERVIEW: If you liked 'Melancholia, well... let's just say you might not definitely like this. This is an end-of-the-world film for romantics and people who just want a friend. It might not be laugh-out-loud funny or the ultimate tearjerker, but it is overly satisfying. I was glad to spend an unconventionally upbeat end of the world with Dodge and Penny... 2012, hit me with your best shot!
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