I suppose this is what is called the ‘romcom’ genre, i.e., romantic comedy, only this is bordering on the sci-fi as well, but regardless of what genre this is classified in, it is most certainly an entertaining, funny, and poignant movie about what would happen if you knew the planet would be decimated in three short weeks.
The idea of running out of time seems to bring out the best and the worst in most people, and the fact of the matter is this: what might seem like the least likely in normal circumstances takes on an aura of most common and acceptable form in such dire circumstances. For instance, would a young bohemian woman really fall for a middle-aged guy who lives in her building – unless she knew the world was coming to an end and her own boyfriend was using her as a human shield? I guess so…
Well, such are the sagas that we witness even as the clock is ticking and apocalypse is almost upon them. But still, circumstances notwithstanding, there is sweet poignancy in seeing and realizing that even the end of the world cannot obliterate the better qualities of human nature: qualities such as the desire to protect and provide for another; to sacrifice for another; to comfort and assure another. Oh, wait: is that what is called love?
Steve Carrell and Kiera Knightly offer strong performances, and despite stretches of unevenness in plot and script, it is still a sweet film, and one that I would recommend.
One of the songs that served as a backdrop was one that my husband picked up on as an old pop song from the Seventies. I told him I was barely a toddler in those days and had no recollection of it, but it did have a lovely melody, and I reproduce it here for us all to enjoy:
