A Movie Review: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Seeking a Friend of the End of the World. That world ending asteroid has appeared and is about to destroy humanity -- either via immediate death or long-term starvation, I suppose. If one can say, this is a rather light-hearted take on the end of humanity when compared to a movie such as Melancholia.

With an asteroid only days away, Dodge (Steve Carell) finds himself alone. His wife has freaked out and left him. For some reason, he continues to go to work. His co-workers are slowing drifting away either via suicide or just leaving to be with family. He eventually decides to leave, as well. He finds himself hanging out with his apartment neighbor, Penny (Keira Knightley). They decide to spend their last few days helping each other out. Penny wants to be with her family. Dodge wants to find his high school sweetheart.

They take a semi-amusing road trip. Sure there are some serious moments that are played for dark humor: the truck driver who has hired a hit man to take his life, the police officer who has to play it by the book even with only days left for humanity, the preppers who plan on surviving it all. This end of the world movie doesn't take anything serious even though it does address in bits the various reactions that would no doubt occur if such an event was about to hit earth.

This movie is sort of forgettable and yet watchable. The ending attempts to make a profound statement, but it really doesn't feel like one. In the end, an average movie that sort of underwhelms considering the talents of the two leads.