February 27, 2008
A downbeat title and a morbid subject. But The Bucket List is a sweet, life affirming movie that coasts on the charisma of its stars.
Millionaire businessman Jack Nicholson builds hospitals - made to measure, two patients per room. The last thing he expects is to have to share one of his own creations with humble, history-loving mechanic Morgan Freeman.
Diagnosed with terminal illnesses, the odd couple bond (of course) and decide to blow Nicholson's millions on their bucket list - ten things to do before they kick the bucket.
Skydiving septuagenarians is funnier than it sounds. And 'kiss the most beautiful girl in the world' is achieved with a wonderful pay-off, true to the spirit of the film.
The Bucket List is hard to characterise - not bittersweet; while certainly sweet it's not at all bitter. Death, faith, love, regret, all are dealt with lightly but seriously.
And though the script could be sharper and wittier (Nicholson, after all, was born to speak superb lines), it ploughs a much more mediocre furrow, leaving it to Freeman and the enjoyable Nicholson to carry the film with a two-handed masterclass.
Freeman's frosty relationship with his wife, Nicholson's estrangement from his daughter - it all points to a syrupy finale. Wisely, though, director Rob Reiner (When Harry Met Sally) subverts each situation - wringing emotion, but not in the ways you'd expect.
Nicely done too is the relationship between Nicholson and his long-suffering assistant - who makes the bucket list happen.
Slow and stately, The Bucket List won't top everyone's chart but as a warm and thoughtful antidote to fast and furious films, it could just be what the doctor ordered.
Millionaire businessman Jack Nicholson builds hospitals - made to measure, two patients per room. The last thing he expects is to have to share one of his own creations with humble, history-loving mechanic Morgan Freeman.
Diagnosed with terminal illnesses, the odd couple bond (of course) and decide to blow Nicholson's millions on their bucket list - ten things to do before they kick the bucket.
Skydiving septuagenarians is funnier than it sounds. And 'kiss the most beautiful girl in the world' is achieved with a wonderful pay-off, true to the spirit of the film.
The Bucket List is hard to characterise - not bittersweet; while certainly sweet it's not at all bitter. Death, faith, love, regret, all are dealt with lightly but seriously.
And though the script could be sharper and wittier (Nicholson, after all, was born to speak superb lines), it ploughs a much more mediocre furrow, leaving it to Freeman and the enjoyable Nicholson to carry the film with a two-handed masterclass.
Freeman's frosty relationship with his wife, Nicholson's estrangement from his daughter - it all points to a syrupy finale. Wisely, though, director Rob Reiner (When Harry Met Sally) subverts each situation - wringing emotion, but not in the ways you'd expect.
Nicely done too is the relationship between Nicholson and his long-suffering assistant - who makes the bucket list happen.
Slow and stately, The Bucket List won't top everyone's chart but as a warm and thoughtful antidote to fast and furious films, it could just be what the doctor ordered.