I'd always heard mixed things about The Bucket List, but I'd always wanted to see it for myself because it was Jack Nicholson's last starring role before his retirement. I was pleasantly surprised at how poignant the film ended up being. The Bucket List may not have the strongest script and features a moment of horrendous CGI, but it consistently utilizes the chemistry between Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman to really make you care about the characters. The film is the ultimate bittersweet middle finger to terminal illness and no doubt fulfills the fantasies of millions of terminally ill people who've faced similar epiphanies about their lives.
When billionaire Edward Cole (Nicholson) learns he's got terminal cancer, he befriends his hospital roommate Carter Chambers (Freeman) and together, they decide to embark on an end-of-your-life quest to fulfill their dreams. What follows is a charming adventure that sees two longtime Hollywood icons have a chance to reminisce about the different routes their lives took, with the film acting as a metaphor for the actors' respective journeys. I personally enjoyed every second and simply can't understand why this film was critically panned upon release. The Bucket List is a quirky dramedy that doesn't try to play down the evils of cancer. Instead, the film plays up the importance of living your life on your own terms and enjoying every second of it. You never know when your time is up, so might as well make the most of the whole damn thing. I liked this film, and I think more people will like it too if they give it a chance. |