Promise of the Hidden

CAST: Steve Carrell,Kiera Knightley,Martin Sheen

Rating: **1/2

An asteroid is about to wipe out life on earth. A couple have just heard this in their car parked by the roadside,in the middle of nowhere,over the radio. The guy breaks the silence that has set in,saying,“I think we missed the turn.” The woman looks at him,opens the door and runs away.

That scene promises a film of undercurrents such as above,of the unsaid and the wrongly uttered,of the hidden and the obvious,of a catastrophe churning up mostly the worst in a relationship. What Seeking a Friend for the End of the World does is offer a gentle film with an unlikely duo that are almost forced to find their “true love” in each other.

It’s a relief that this end-of-the-world film isn’t as much about the end as the days leading up to it. It’s almost heartening to see the equanimity with which people around seem to be taking it — some have decided to have a party,others to go about their everyday lives. Even the desperation of the few,is almost comical. Where the film ends up jarring,ironically,is in its leads — Dodge (Carrell) and Penny (Knightley),who are charming the first few times in the way they approach the end of their days,agreeable the next few,and progressively irritating as the film proceeds. The premise of the two realising they are made for each other is more circumstantial than substantial. Carrell is fatherly in his gloom,even as a girly Knightley alternates between toothy,nose-crinkley smiles,loud sobs and weed. One would like to believe it is part of the plot,even blame the weed. Can’t shake off the feeling it isn’t.