THE STORY – Following decades of marriage, elderly couple Joan and Larry die within a week of each other. That means they don’t have to wait long to reunite in the afterlife, a way station where every soul has one week to decide who to spend the rest of eternity with. For Joan and Larry, the answer would seem to be straightforward. Enter Luke, Joan’s first husband, who died in the Korean War and has been waiting 67 years to have his one-and-only back in his arms. Does Joan choose to revive the passionate love of her youth? Or does she stick with the time-tested fortitude of her second marriage?
THE CAST – Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner, John Early, Olga Merediz & Da’Vine Joy Randolph
THE TEAM – David Freyne (Director/Writer) & Pat Cunnane (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 113 Minutes
Marriage takes on the ultimate commitment with “Til death do us part,” but what happens if there’s an afterlife? Are you supposed to stay with the same person, or do you have permission to try something you’ve always wanted? That’s the dilemma at the heart of director David Freyne’s funny and genuinely heartfelt “Eternity,” an unconventional rom-com with elements of “The Good Place” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” in the mix. This sentimental story about following one’s heart is made all the better by a charming cast who’d be our picks for eternal companions. Even if the film doesn’t come with many surprises along the way, it all leads to a perfect resting place.
After a lifetime of reckless pretzel munching, it finally gets to old Larry (Miles Teller), and before he even knows it, he’s on a train, back in peak physical shape, with a ticket to the eternal afterlife. But there are no white, pearly gates at the “Junction.” What he finds instead is a 1970s-esque hotel conference room with rows and rows of worlds where he can live in bliss forever, such as Queer World, Weimar World (100% free of Nazis), Food World, and Man-Free World (which is hilariously overcapacity). With the help of his Afterlife Coordinator Anna (a divine Da’Vine Joy Randolph), he has to make this permanent decision in a week. What complicates matters is that his wife of 65 years, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen), still hasn’t kicked the bucket, and he wants to make sure he’s picking the best option for them both.
When Joan finally arrives, forever can finally start for them both. However, the afterlife suddenly becomes far more complicated when her first husband, Luke (Callum Turner), who died in the Korean War, appears. He has been waiting 67 years in this trade show purgatory to finally get a chance at happiness and a full life with his first love. Stuck between two great men, Joan has a big decision to make: Does she stay with the man with whom she has gone through so many ups and downs, or does she chase the dream life that was ripped away from her so soon?
On the surface, “Eternity” is a truly fun and hilarious romantic comedy that puts a creative spin on the eternal question, “What happens when we die?” This cast is pitch-perfect, especially when it comes to Teller and Turner’s castings. Teller leans into all of Larry’s quirks, like how annoyed he is at everything and how much of a party pooper he can be, which makes it almost impossible for Joan to imagine another lifetime with him. On the flip side, Turner is pretty much the personification of Prince Charming, and he nails it with every loving glance, embrace, and profound feeling for Joan. The way these three, especially Olsen, adapt and respond to each other is also a treat. She gets into a very relatable, loving, comfortable annoyance with Larry whenever he’s around her, while she becomes the giddy young woman she was when she first met Luke. Larry and Luke’s rivalry is another highlight, even though some may be over the trope of two men fighting over a woman. But the real scene-stealers are Randolph and John Early as Afterlife Coordinators, who have so many great one-liners throughout the film and are enjoying the crazy love triangle unfolding in front of them.
Once you dig a little deeper, Freyne and co-writer Pat Cunnane tell a really moving story about love and loss. Luke and Joan got their perfect life ripped away from them, and it’s so sweet that, despite life going on, they never stopped thinking about each other and wondering how things would have turned out for them. It’s especially apparent whenever Joan talks about her children and grandchildren, and Luke is distraught that he could never give her those beautiful moments. Likewise, there’s so much love between Joan and Larry. It’s not seen through grand gestures, but through little moments, like encouraging her to squat so she can feel better (her hips can move!) or by seeking out her favorite singer so he can show his love for her. Things might not always go according to plan for him, but he’s spent his whole life trying to make her happy, which is a lot more than others can say. Teller’s sincerity and the way he wears his heart on his sleeve make Larry’s arc work, even at times when we’re supposed to view him as “second-best” in this situation. Although Joan’s ultimate decision may not come as a surprise to the audience, the screenplay’s heartfelt undertones take us to great lengths with the whole cast.
The grand finale introduces the exploration of memories akin to “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” that would have been really interesting to dive into more, but there’s just not enough time, because Joan is running to her happily ever after. Despite that one falter, “Eternity” is a pleasant surprise that will pull on your heartstrings as much as it makes you laugh. A fantastic cast brings a soulful and endearing story to life with plenty of gags and creative world-building in between. But most importantly, it reminds us that when you find “the one,” you don’t need to wait for the promise of a perfect afterlife to have everything you need.
