Dodge Petersen the main character I will admit starts off a little boring. You can already tell what type of character he is when you see him, he's the stick in the mud, he's reluctant, boring not only as character development goes but as a person, and later on in the film someone or something will make him change his ways and we will see a soft spot in him. And...yes that's what happens but what still manages to make the character a really good character is Steve Carrell. Every line delivery and every facial expression he gives is more than credible and he makes me totally believe that this character can exist. Heck, there are even times when I can actually see myself in Dodge. There are times when I feel grumpy, sarcastic, or just overall not in a good mood and I feel that only something life changing or spectacular can change me, without even realizing it is something as simple as finding a true good companion when you least suspect it. And that's where Penny comes in. Penny is an extremely likeable character. She's funny, supportive, helpful, clever, fun, and overall just feels like somebody who is enjoyable to be around. She's the one who helps Dodge see things in a better light and show him the fun that the rest of his life is dying to offer him. On top of that Keira Knightley's performance is very good and like Carrelll every delivery she gives is believable.
So I know what you might be thinking. Wow, this sounds like any other average comedy-drama/romance film about two people who meet by fate, one's a stick in the mud and one's a fun loving life fanatic, and the fun loving one shows the stick in the mud the light and that is how they get together. Well, yeah it sounds corny when you think about it. But what is about this film that makes such a simple yet tired premise somehow work and be believable? Honestly, it is the whole stuff about the end of the world. If this were any other comedy-drama/romance film with the same premise without the end of the world tied to it, it would be pretty tired and mediocre. But the stuff about the end of the world is the emotional height and center of this film. What I highly, HIGHLY appreciate about it is that even though the film is part comedy, it takes this matter very seriously, very adult, and dare I say probably very realistic. People are rioting, committing suicide, hiring assassins to assist in suicide, people are getting drunk, happy, and partying than ever before which may lead to "end of the world sex" and probably something too inappropriate even for me to say in this review. Never did I see a film that told us straight out that something as big as the end of the world was truly going to happen to these characters and the world that they exist in. There are no big action scenes, special CGI effects, explosions, natural disasters, meteors, and most thankfully a laughable way to prevent such disasters. There is absolutely no gimmick that is used to have the film desperately want us to believe that this is happening or will happen, just the genius build up to it. Well in the film they explained they tried to prevent it, but you know what, they failed! They honest to God failed, a possible outcome if something like this would happen! And you know what else? All that is mentioned in the very beginning of the film! From the beginning they saved us from all the stupidity, cheapness, ridiculous, ludicrous, and overall over the top nonsense that these "end of the world" action films love to present us. It states that this disaster is going to happen, there is no way to prevent it, we're going to treat you like the adults you are, and we are going to rid you off all the nonsense and we are just going to rely on build-up to the end of the world. Finally, a film that features the end of the world but treats the audience with outright respect, thank the Lord! Oh yes, and the answer to if the end of the world does or does not happen, I will DARE not spoil it for you, let's just say the film respects that we are adults and we can take anything. But going back to Dodge, Penny, and their relationship, the whole end of the world concept makes it stronger because, well they are under sort of a time limit. Both of these characters want nothing more than to be with their loved ones when the end of the world does come. Little do they know that it is each other that they really need. And after all the time and personal stories they shared together, it would be hard for them not to believe that they were meant to be and were meant to stay and hold each others hands when the time comes, and they would not do it with anybody else in the world. In my opinion knowing somebody for a little amount of time because of a tragedy that will strike and figuring out that they are the best companion you are ever going to get is quite emotional and powerful. The film did not need to be a comedy because it did significantly more well as a straight out drama. It did not need a villain because the end of the world is already out to get them. And again it did not need any cheap gimmicks in order for us to take it seriously when instead we would laugh at it. It outright treated us seriously as well as we treat it seriously. It is my favorite film of the year as well as becoming one of my personal favorite films in the top 30 simply because it highly respects me, and in return I can highly respect it back. HAPPY END OF THE WORLD DAY!
GRADE: E
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