The time period of 2012 was a tumultuous one. People everywhere were flipping out over the prophecy of the Mayan Calendar running out, and apparently that automatically meant the world was coming to an end. Of course, if you're reading this now, then obviously the world is still here. Of course, that didn't stop Hollywood from showcasing many different films that dealt with world-ending tragedies. And sifting through all the titles, you would come upon this fantastic piece of cinema!
In the film, an asteroid is rocketing towards Earth, and the space shuttle that was sent into orbit to try and destroy it failed. So basically, everyone on the planet is just waiting to die. And in the sea of hopeless humanity, we meet Dodge. The guy's going through a rough time, with his wife abruptly leaving him after hearing the news of the asteroid, and knowing that there's only days left to live. But he tries to continue living a normal life, while all his friends begin giving in to temptation and as much trouble as they possibly can. Then, suddenly thrust into his world is Penny, his troubled neighbor from downstairs who is upset because her dumbass boyfriend caused her to miss all the flights to England so she could be with her family one last time. Soon, Dodge offers Penny a chance to get to England, as he knows someone with a plane, but she has to help him find the girl from his past that he has never been able to forget first. They embark on a journey that will eventually lead them to the two people who they've been needing in their lives the most: each other.
In the film, an asteroid is rocketing towards Earth, and the space shuttle that was sent into orbit to try and destroy it failed. So basically, everyone on the planet is just waiting to die. And in the sea of hopeless humanity, we meet Dodge. The guy's going through a rough time, with his wife abruptly leaving him after hearing the news of the asteroid, and knowing that there's only days left to live. But he tries to continue living a normal life, while all his friends begin giving in to temptation and as much trouble as they possibly can. Then, suddenly thrust into his world is Penny, his troubled neighbor from downstairs who is upset because her dumbass boyfriend caused her to miss all the flights to England so she could be with her family one last time. Soon, Dodge offers Penny a chance to get to England, as he knows someone with a plane, but she has to help him find the girl from his past that he has never been able to forget first. They embark on a journey that will eventually lead them to the two people who they've been needing in their lives the most: each other.
The first time I viewed this movie, I didn't know what to expect. I knew it was mainly an end-of-the-world story, but there was supposed to be a love story mixed in. Last time that was tried was in "Armageddon". But this movie is more comedic, and I love it for that! It's fun to see how people react when faced with certain death, and they are forced to just wait it out. Everything illegal suddenly becomes everything that a person has ever wanted to do. There's a scene with Dodge at a party with his friends, and they've got a lot of drugs. But rather than try and show restraint, they just want to do as much as they can, as per one of the lines of the film, "this isn't an ark. It's the fu**ing Titanic, and there's no lifeboats in sight."
Steve Carell is really good in his performance as Dodge. I've always enjoyed Carell's work in dramedies. I know he's really made his mark in the comedic world thanks his lengthy run on "The Office" or films like "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy", but when he goes off and does something like this film, I always like the somber performance he can bring out. Keira Knightley does a wonderful job as Penny, the troubled girl and eventual love interest for Dodge. She really brought in the eyes of a person who knows there's no way out of whats coming, yet still hopes to possibly find salvation.
Steve Carell is really good in his performance as Dodge. I've always enjoyed Carell's work in dramedies. I know he's really made his mark in the comedic world thanks his lengthy run on "The Office" or films like "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy", but when he goes off and does something like this film, I always like the somber performance he can bring out. Keira Knightley does a wonderful job as Penny, the troubled girl and eventual love interest for Dodge. She really brought in the eyes of a person who knows there's no way out of whats coming, yet still hopes to possibly find salvation.
The music is fantastic. One of the best things about the character of Penny is that she is an avid music collector, and she has a great collection of records that she barely ever lets out of her sight. In the end, I would recommend this film to anyone. It's a great pick to just sit down and view with a relaxed mind. And I do believe it's one of Steve Carell's best outings in the dramedy world, and he's had quite a few good ones.