Lorene Scafaria | nediunedited

Yes. It is truly about the destruction of the Earth. And yet, it is funny, touching and romantic. I loved that Seeking a Friend for the End of the World has a unique and creative premise and did not take the easy way out. It stuck to its guns. And by doing so, it allowed the characters to evolve naturally and the result is heartbreaking and sweet.

The credit has to go to writer/director Lorene Scafaria who, for her directorial début, chose to create a dark, bleak setting for a romance to bloom. This gave her the freedom to explore the various aspects of human nature, the desperation of many, as well as some hilarious coping mechanisms. What would you do if you only had 3 weeks left on the planet? Trust me. Scafaria covers an array of reactions to this scenario. She guides you through a series of emotions along with her characters and it is very effective.

It helps that we have the awesome Steve Carrell as Dodge, a soft-spoken everyman, and the wonderful Keira Knightley as Penny, a younger free spirit, who are destined to cross paths. All I will say is that the development of their relationship is one of the most real and heartwarming I’ve seen on-screen in a long time. Truly lovely. The play off each other perfectly and despite their glaring differences they find something special.

I felt that the message of this film was about life and how we choose to live it, except that this notion is intensified in the story because they know the deadline. Would we live differently if we knew when it would end? Would love and friendship be all that really matters? In truth, everyday could be our last and maybe we need seize any opportunity to love and to be happy–even if it turns out to be for short time–because at the end of the world, that is all that will really count.