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Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (15)

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (15)

Comedy, Drama, Romance

As an asteroid nears Earth, a man finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. He decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart. Accompanying him is a neighbor who inadvertently puts a wrench in his plan.


The critical consensus

Feeble and cloying from midway to its final throes, it begins with a bang but – inappropriately for the scenario – goes out with a whimper.

**(*)(*)(*)Emma Simmonds, The List, 25/06/2012

The sugary third act might be as sappy as the first is dark, but there are comforts in this apoca-romcom – not least Carell’s sad-eyed, soulful turn.

***(*)(*)Paul Bradshaw, Total Film, 03/07/2012

So if you can only endure one film about the end of the world, I recommend Don Mc­Kellar’s Last Night. If you can endure two, try Lars von Trier’s Melancholia. As for Seeking… bring on the asteroid.

Siobhan Synnot, The Scotsman, 08/07/2012

A decidedly human respite from all the superhero action. Perhaps not as funny or affecting as you’d hope, but Carell and Knightley make for good company for the darkest days.

***(*)(*)Ian Freer, Empire Online, 09/07/2012

Carell and Knightley do their best to make it lively and touching but the characters are, by turns, dull and irritating, and I never really believed in or cared about their relationship.

**(*)(*)(*)Henry Fitzherbert, Daily Express, 11/07/2012

The sight of Keira Knightley falling for Steve Carell in this misjudged romantic comedy/drama remains hard to swallow – and not just because the gag reflex kicks in the moment they start batting eyelids at one another.

**(*)(*)(*)Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman, 12/07/2012

The picture eventually sinks under the weight of its original idea and becomes simply depressing. An end of the world comedy? A concept too far in this case.

**(*)(*)(*)Alison Rowat, The Herald, 12/07/2012

As ever, without a funny script, Carell looks and sounds like the world's creepiest serial killer.

*(*)(*)(*)(*)Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 12/07/2012

If the end really was nigh, you wouldn't want to spend the little time left with either of these two.

**(*)(*)(*)Anthony Quinn, The Independent, 13/07/2012

A near-death experience.

*(*)(*)(*)(*)Chris Tookey, Daily Mail, 13/07/2012

A failed attempt to mix genres, made worse by a lot of misplaced schmaltz.

Jessica Lambert, Little White Lies, 12/07/2012

Carell’s rumpled melancholy is a gift, and it’s sad to see it being misappropriated for a project this stunted.

**(*)(*)(*)Robbie Collin, The Telegraph, 12/07/2012

Given how the clock is ticking down to the extinction of the species, the plot moves at a surprisingly languid pace.

**(*)(*)(*)David Edwards, Daily Record, 13/07/2012

Carrell is fine in a role he can (and does) sleepwalk through, but Knightly struggles as the deeply annoying Penny.

**(*)(*)(*)Chris Fyvie, The Skinny, 13/07/2012

"Knock knock." "Who's there?" "Armageddon". "Armageddon who?" "Armageddon tired of watching this lousy movie."

Philip French, The Observer, 15/07/2012


Features about Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (15)

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World: the apocalypse wiht laughs

John Patterson, The Guardian, 07/07/2012

Where and when?

General release. Check local listings for show times.

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