Eternity

An older couple, Larry (Barry Primus) and Joan (Betty Buckley) bicker amiably as they make their way to a gender reveal party for a forthcoming grandchild, Joan resisting Larry's gentle suggestion that they tell the kids about her cancer diagnosis so as not to spoil the day. But when a box of old photos is brought out, a picture of a much younger Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) and her late husband, Korean war hero Luke (Callum Turner), causes Larry to choke on his pretzel. He'll awaken as his own much younger self (Miles Teller), disoriented, and learn from his Afterlife Consultant, Anna (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), that he needs to choose his own paradise, but once chosen cannot change his mind. But when Joan shows up unexpectedly as well, while Larry's thrilled to be reunited, he'll have a rival in Luke, who's waited in transition for sixty-five years to be with her for "Eternity."

Laura's Review: C

Cowriter (with Patrick Cunnane)/director David Freyne takes the old concept of a woman who, presuming her husband has died, remarries only to discover he's still alive (see "Tomorrow is Forever," "The Return of Martin Guerre"), and mashes it together with the afterlife waystation movie (see "Beetlejuice," "After Life," "Defending Your Life") for a romcom whose outcome is never in doubt, seriously undermining any rooting interest in one half of its equation. There are many odd choices made here, like the fact that Turner is continually referred to as a dreamboat while Teller is supposed to be ordinary looking. Teller, in fact, along with his 'AC' Randolph, are the only really likable characters in this movie, his and Joan's older selves excepted, as Olsen's Joan is wishy washy and Turner's Luke not what he initially appears to be. The filmmaker also puts Larry and Luke at each other's throats only to do a complete U-Turn and make them drinking buddies.

The departed waken on a train, arriving in a large transition station where the newly arrived, obviously confused, are continually told that 'your AC will explain everything.' We also learn that once you are dead, you appearance reverts to what it was when you were happiest, which is fine for the film's principals but fails to explain all those train passengers in hospital johnnies. Freyne's most amusing concept is to treat the station like a convention hall where various 'eternities,' like Surf World and Capitalist World or the two destinations, the beach and the mountains, Larry and Joan had been arguing about, all vie for new members (Man Free World, alas, is at full capacity). Folks are checked into hotel rooms in the vast structure looming over the station where backdrops present the illusion of day and night, something like "The Truman Show," and told they have one week to decide (those who try to escape their chosen eternities - and we see many being chased through the station - are thrown into 'the void'). Those who cannot make a decision are moved into dingy basement rooms that don't smell very nice and given jobs, but Larry doesn't recognize his bartender when he first hits the hotel bar even though we know it's Luke.

While Luke has been waiting sixty-seven years for Joan to arrive, Larry writes a note for Joan, asking her to join him in his chosen Beach World, a letter he stuffs in his back pocket when he crosses paths with her on opposing escalators and jumps ship. But just when they are joyously celebrating their reunion in the main station, in strides Luke, setting up Joan to choose between the passion of first romance and the everday ups and downs of a long term marriage. Anna will join up with Luke's cheerleading AC Ryan (John Early) and bring the matter upstairs, getting a dispensation for this 'very unusual' situation (what, no one has ever died who has remarried after losing a spouse before???), allowing Joan to spend a week with each of her husbands in two separate eternities before making her decision. Of course, multiple complication arise, like the Archive Tunnels in each eternity which house memories. Luke is happy to visit while Larry balks. Joan learns things about each man from the other and then her old friend Karen (Olga Merediz) arrives with ideas of her own.

'Larry grows on you,' someone observes when comparing the regular guy to the dashing war hero and Teller's performance, sprinkled with just the right amount of irritating behaviors, supports that, giving credence to Joy Randolph's interest in this particular client. These two are a delight to spend time with, but "Eternity" is too long for everyone else.

Robin's Review: C

A24 releases "Eternity" in theaters on 11/27/25.