It’s been an eternity since we’ve had a decent– or even an indecent— romantic drama or comedy released in theaters. So the arrival of Eternity is a welcome sight, though I don’t think it’s destined for a coveted spot in the pantheon of eternally rewatchable romantic flicks. Here’s what it does right: it’s cute, bittersweet, funny, poignant, and morbidly thought-provoking. And it features a solid, endearing cast. Here’s what it does wrong: the ending. It drags when it should be sprinting to the finish line.
Eternity poses the not-so-eternal question (unless you believe in this particular brand of Afterlife): Where would you choose to spend Eternity, and with whom? Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) faces an impossible choice. She arrives in a chaotic, bureaucratic waystation shortly after her death to find two men anxiously waiting for her: her recently-deceased, longtime husband Larry (Miles Teller) with whom she shares children, grandchildren, and decades of memories; and her first love/first husband Luke (Callum Turner), who died in combat during the Korean War when they were just passionate newlyweds. Luke’s been hanging out in limbo, working as a waystation bartender, for 67 years, waiting for Joan to show up so they can “move on” together. It’s a love triangle like no other!
The premise lends itself to a hodgepodge of emotions. There’s drama in the “who will she ultimately choose” question. And comedy in the absurdity of the situation. It’s fun watching Luke and Larry size each other up while competing for Joan’s eternal devotion. They are both good guys. Both love Joan. And Joan loves both of them. But the “Afterlife rules” state she has to pick just one guy– and one Eternity– within seven days. Gotta keep the line moving! She appeals for help from a wacky pair of “Afterlife Coordinators” (ACs) handling her and her husbands’ cases. The ACs are played by Academy Award winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers) and comedian John Early. They are supposed to facilitate the arrival and departure of the newly dead, and help advise them on the myriad options for where to spend Eternity. The beach! The mountains! The XXX Anything Goes Eternity (Safe Words Required)!
In a move worthy of The Bachelor one-on-one dates, Joan gets a chance to spend time with each husband before handing out her final rose, so to speak.
There are no bad guys in Eternity. But there are right and wrong choices. Whether it all works out in “the end” is anyone’s guess.
Eternity opens November 26. It’s rated PG-13 and runs 112 minutes.