Sometimes I hear a movie premise and think to myself, “Wow, that is such a fantastic idea. Why didn’t I come up with that?” And that is exactly how I felt when I heard about A24’s imaginative, fantasy rom-com, ETERNITY. The film reminds me of the world-building created in THE TRUMAN SHOW, mixed with the creativity of THE GOOD PLACE, and a hint of ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND. A love triangle is at the center of the film, but in reality the strength of this ensemble cast is what really makes it great. And the production design is absolutely out of this world!
ETERNITY explores the after life through the lens of Joan (Elizabeth Olsen), who must decide which of her former husbands she should spend eternity with. In one corner you have Joan’s first husband Luke (Callum Turner), who died in combat; he has been waiting 67 years for Joan to join him so they can decide which eternity to go to together. Then you have Larry (Miles Teller), Joan’s second husband, who she was married to for 65 years and had children. Luke is the brooding, enigmatic archetype, compared to Larry’s more anxious, goofy persona. Afterlife consultants (ACs) Anna (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) and Ryan (John Early) explain the rules to their clients—the most important of which being once you choose an eternity, you can’t leave… and you can’t visit others either. Now it is up to Joan to decide which man she wants to spend forever with… or more importantly, who she can’t imagine spending forever without.
First and foremost, the production design is the backbone and highlight of this movie. So much so, I feel like each time I watch the film, I am going to discover a new gem I didn’t notice before. The script does a lot by way of world-building, but it would be nothing without the ingenious sets and props that populate each scene. It’s clear how much playful energy the team put into working on the film; I was particularly amused by the thought that went into creating each “world” booth for the eternity exhibition hall. I found myself wondering what eternity I would want to go into—probably “movie world”, “cat world,” or “Leonardo DiCaprio’s girlfriend world”—and what it would look like. I can take some guesses.
Elizabeth Olsen is always great in everything she does. From the Marvel Cinematic Universe, to sci-fi, to dark comedies, and dramas, the one through line is that Olsen always is a highlight. And ETERNITY is no exception. Only in this film, she is joined by an ensemble cast that did not have any weak links. I miss a good movie love triangle, and Olsen’s ability to build a believable love story with both Turner and Teller’s attest to each couple’s electric chemistry. And we can’t forget Randolph and Early, who steal every scene they are in and are the dependable comedic relief throughout. I would love to see a spinoff film just following them around the after life and dealing with their most problematic clients.
It’s hard to find much to criticize about this film, and one of my more pressing issues is a bit too spoilery for this review; let’s just say I had different plans for the climax of the third act and for the men to be more focused on Joan’s ideal eternity, not their own. But the one thing I will discuss is that I didn’t always feel equally invested in both Luke and Larry’s chances in the love triangle. Without getting into spoilers, one always felt like he eclipsed the other… and for ETERNITY to really be perfect, we needed a bit more equality. Honestly, at a few points in the movie I actually wanted Joan to choose herself.
ETERNITY is the epitome of an entertaining crowdpleaser, with laugh out loud humor and poignant moments that will provoke a spectrum of emotions… as the best rom-coms do. It’s also a movie that is perfect for a re-watch, not only because it is a lot of fun but also because I imagine you will notice something new, an inside joke, with each viewing. I’m always excited when studios take big swings to release innovative content we haven’t seen before and isn’t based on formulaic, safe intellectual property; ETERNITY is none of that, and that’s why it’s so charming.
My Review: B+
