Seeking a Friend for the End of the World delivers a fresh spin on an old story. It takes the classic road trip, and couples it with an armageddon scenario. This unique combination offers a terrific new setting to exploit characteristics of both genres to create something fresh. While the comedic parts leave something on the table, the dramatic elements are well executed. Just like if the world ended, Seeking a Friend provides some catharsis while leaving something to be desired.
Listening to his classic rock station, Dodge (Steve Carell), hears on the broadcast that the mankind’s last attempt to save the planet has failed, and Earth has only 3 weeks to live. Upon hearing this, his wife (Nancy Walls) immediately leaves him. While dealing with the ramifications of these 2 momentous events, he meets Penny (Kiera Knightley) a free spirit who longs to spend her last days with her family in England. Dodge strikes a deal with her: if Penny helps him find “the one that got away,” then Dodge will get her a plane trip home.
First time director Lorene Scafaria puts too much on her plate unfortunately. The well is so deep that she tries to cram two movies into one. Unfortunately, while the drama side earns its moments, the comedy side is underexplored. It feels as if they felt the material was too depressing that they needed to shoehorn in some comedic moments to lighten the mood.
The comedic stuff is basically a series of vignettes involving either Dodge or Dodge and Penny and other people/places they encounter. The setups are very intriguing: What do you do about your kids?, What laws are you willing to break?, What happens at work?. Some of these scenes are more effective than others, and usually dependent on a cameo. Particularly effective are the end of the world party and the late night restaurant that stays open. Unfortunately, the beginning of the movie is littered with lots of these episodes which fail to progress the story well. The first hour also uses obvious plot hints/devices which any observant watcher will realize their importance for the ending.
The foundation of the story is the evolving relationship of Dodge and Penny. I must admit, the casting of Steve Carell and Kiera Knightley as the two leads made me worry because I did not see a “relationship” developing between the two. However, Kiera Knightley and more impressively Steve Carell display one of the better character progressions that could lead to two characters loving each other. The first hour is a good feel out period for the both of them, but as we spend more time with them, the chemistry becomes stronger and more palpable: it’s almost as if the relationship quickly got past the physical for something more deep and heartfelt. The final 20 minutes are especially moving and well earned.
The acting is mixed. Kiera Knightley needs more work as a comedian, but she hits the right note as Penny the spunky optimist. Her dramatic moments are some of the most moving in Seeking a Friend, particularly a phone call home. Knightley is wonderful at conveying nuanced emotions without talking. Steve Carell is almost cast against type here, like a neutered version of his 40-Year-Old Virgin character. His comedic moments are few and far between, although there are flashes. He does however grow into his dramatic moments, and is very good at delivering those without artifice. The other characters range from hysterical to forgettable, with the two best being Adam Brody as Penny’s ex and Rob Corddry as a friend of Dodge.
Michael Bay’s presence is nonexistent (with the exception of 1 brief reference right at the beginning of the movie) in this movie, as are special effects. Like Melancholia, Seeking a Friend attempts to show characters in the midst of an impending disaster. Seeking a Friend goes to show that even if you know the end is near, there is still enough time to change the path you have set for yourself, and the destination is not as important as the journey.