If the world was ending and there was nothing you could do about it, how would you spend your final few weeks? The end of the world is fascinating for so many, and for good reason, it’s not an outlandish thought, it is possible and it could happen sooner than we think. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World plays on that morbid fascination, taking inspiration from a song, Preaching the End of the World by Chris Cornell.
An asteroid is coming for earth with very little time till it hits, we meet Dodge, played by Steve Carell, and Penny, Kiera Knightley, who team up to reunite Dodge with his childhood sweetheart before the end of the world, and to try and get Penny home to her parents. Dodge is sad and lonely when we meet him, Penny is very manic pixie dream girl, carrying her records around with her as her most valued possession. The two make an unusual pairing, but it also just makes sense.
Through the journey Dodge and Penny go on, we get to see how different groups respond to the coming end of the world. Some riot, some bunker down and go into survival mode, some hire hitmen to kill them, some take the time to appreciate the world and soak in the sun…. oh and some have an orgy cause why not… I think this film captures the varying degrees of panic quite well, obviously we have nothing to compare this too (thankfully), but I think this shows the different reactions so well. I think I’d be in team soaking up the sun and living my last moments. God it’s scary to think about, but think about it I have, a lot since watching this film actually. It really gets in your head, it’s stayed with me long after I watched it and I already want to watch it again.
It’s sad, but it’s also beautiful and filmed in a gorgeous and bright way, really showing the beauty of our planet. This is a love story, not only in the romantic sense but also a love story for life, but without being too cliche about it. The structure of this narrative moves along perfectly, it never felt like it was going too slow or too fast, yet perfectly conveyed the sense of no time ever being enough time for these characters. The sadness lingered alongside the quirky humour of this film’s script.
I loved this film, it was so poignant and well made. Its fun style of filmmaking in the face of peril means it lingers with you and makes you think about your own mortality. 10/10 film. I’m off to rewatch it now!
