Oh, we really lack good rom-coms these days. But for films like “Eternity,” it’s worth the wait, because they more than compensate for it.

Brief Plot

Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) and Larry (Miles Teller) have spent 65 years together. They know each other like the back of their hands. And now their time on earth is over — they must choose what their eternity in the afterlife will be like.

The complication is that at the transit point, Joan is awaited by the great love of her youth — her first husband, Luke (Callum Turner), who has waited all these years to share his eternity with her. She faces an impossible choice — a lost love that never had a chance to blossom, or a repetition of family life even after death.

Choose Your Eternity

“Eternity” takes a very unconventional approach to discussing the afterlife. In this case, director David Freyne paints a rather sad picture in its comedic nature. After death, we face full and undeniable capitalism, with market competition, rigid and incomprehensible rules.

These rules are one of the biggest downsides of the film. Watching various advertising agents compete for the deceased to choose their version of eternity is quite amusing. But when you start thinking about the pitfalls, it becomes downright unsettling.

The thing is, the main character not only has to choose one of two men, but also the place where they will remain forever. And the thought that, even retaining their personal qualities in the afterlife, people have no chance to change their minds, is depressing. Mountains won’t be as magical, beaches won’t be as fun, Paris won’t be as romantic. Try spending hundreds of thousands of years there.

However, the advertising race of eternities is the main source of comedy here. The afterlife workers have come up with all sorts of places! There’s an eternity without men, an eternity in a hospital for doctors, a space eternity. Unfortunately, the viewer is left with more questions than answers. Who’s in charge? Who came up with these stupid rules? Why are they even necessary?

But there are charming Da'Vine Joy Randolph and John Early, who help make the rules a bit easier to accept.

Love Triangle

Despite the obvious flaws in the world’s logic, the film definitely wins in terms of characters and relationships.

“Eternity” particularly focuses on Miles Teller’s character, Larry. Miles can act brilliantly when he wants to, because he perfectly portrays a grumpy but good-natured old man who suddenly finds himself young again.

At the same time, Callum Turner also delivers a wonderful performance. And the concept of his character, in my opinion, is the most interesting. Luke waited for his beloved to go into eternity together, and he sacrificed 67 years of work at a station overcrowded with the dead for this wait.

Perhaps Elizabeth Olsen’s character stands out a bit in a negative way here. Don’t get me wrong, she acts wonderfully, but… I never understood what was so special about her Joan that both men fight so hard for the chance to be with her. Yes, she herself brings up this delicate topic at some point, but that doesn’t make her character… any more defined. By the time the credits roll, we know almost as little about Joan as after the first 10 minutes of the film.

Conclusion

Still, “Eternity” is a charming rom-com that explores the theme of love from different angles. For what is love? A wave of feelings that sweeps you off your feet once in a lifetime, or a multitude of quiet, calm, and frankly boring everyday moments?

I like that the film isn’t ashamed to pick a side. That “Eternity” presents viewers with many pros and cons, making them rack their brains, and then does what they think Joan would do (too bad that doesn’t make her character more interesting).

And you realize that any choice she made would have been right. And the main thing is what would bring her true happiness.

If you love rom-coms and light (but not simple!) stories, then we definitely recommend watching “Eternity.” And then come to our comments and tell us which eternity you would choose.