Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is a superior take on the same basic story chronicled in Melancholia, namely something is going to smash into Earth and put us all out of our misery. That does not make it a good film, of course, but unlike Melancholia it is not an insulting, post modern shit-fest. Instead, it is a nice little indie film with warm, charismatic leads and a charming, if somewhat unexciting, story about falling in love.

The strange thing about this film is that two days later I actually can’t remember very much that happened in it, so clearly this is not a film that is going to stay with you for a long time! I remember that there was a great scene where Keira talks about how great vinyl records sound compared to digitized music, and I remember thinking it had a very sweet ending. That’s about it. I do remember basically enjoying it, however, for what it’s worth.

I want to close by saying a few words about the two leads. Keira Knightly is basically marketed in the media as a sex symbol; maybe she looks good if you’re both in a concentration camp, but otherwise it strikes me as borderline absurd. But what I never hear mentioned about her is what a good actress she is. I think she is very underrated. She has an electricity, a spontaneity in her performances that many more critically acclaimed actresses (e.g. Jennifer Lawrence) should really aspire to. Steve Carell, on the other hand, is marketed as a funny man. I never found him all that funny. But what I never hear mentioned about him is how great he is as a romantic lead – in this film, Dan in Real Life, and even Crazy, Stupid, Love to a certain extent. Think how many male romantic leads fall flat because they lack warmth and you can’t connect with them emotionally – Steve Carell never has that problem. On the contrary, there is something about his particular on-screen warmth that is totally compelling in this kind of role. It was nice to see both of them playing to their strengths, together, in this film. I just wish the movie had been more interesting.

What can I say? There are way worse films you could Netflix on a slow night.