Seeking Anyone Other Than Kiera Knightly

No but seriously, anyone but Kiera might have done for Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. Starring Steve Carell and K dubs, the duo deal with the three remaining weeks left before the world ends.

I had been looking forward to this movie for a while. Steve has been a solid actor choice for me since Dan in Real Life (even though no critic likes it, oh well, dicks) and his last one was awesome (Crazy, Stupid, Love, Gosling). However, this movie just didn't do it for me. Much like my earlier post about expectations effecting the experience, I went in thinking this would be an indie funny, feel good while something bad happens film. Instead, it ends up being pretty heavy for most of the time. That sounds obvious when you're talking about a film revolving around an asteroid obliterating the human race, but the commercials are so damn chipper!

Everyone in the film has their own ways of coping with imminent doom. The pair encounter all these people while on a journey to reunite Dodge (Carell) with a long lost love somewhere in NJ. In return, Penny (Knightley) wants to fly back to England to be with her family. Alright, makes sense. It's a shame they didn't stick with that interplay and bigness theme because the movie slows way down and becomes an odd love story that doesn't really ever seem real.

Knightley is there to help Carell's character be less sad, depressing, and woe-is-me-y, but she just seems like she has minor Asperger's Syndrome. Distractingly so (as was her snaggle tooth and hair). Anyway, here are my suggestions for other free spirited female characters that could have played the role that was given to the woman with the most depressing plot-line in Love, Actually:

Mr. F played by Charlize Theron. She can do an English accent, if for some reason that was the selling point to Kiera. She's gorgeous so you don't get too distracted by an actual Brit's teeth. She's already classified retarded so there's no question in your mind, unlike with Kiera. 

Mila Kunis in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Uptight Dodge needed someone to make him be crazy and forget about past mistakes that are getting him down. Mila did it in a fun way that didn't seem like she has zero social skills.

Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine. Again, you have the free-form lady that captivates her leading male. Yet NOT RETARDED. That's basically the only criteria.

As much as it pains me to say it, I just can't recommend Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. But maybe now that you know it's a heavy film (seriously, didn't laugh. Maybe a couple of ha's under my breath), you can go in fully prepared and love it. Or maybe I'll watch it again in a few months and change my mind.

Either way, see you again in Anchorman 2, Stevesie.