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At one time or another, just about everyone has made some kind of a “bucket list”—a list of things to do before you kick the bucket. For most people, it’s a list of faraway dreams—distant stars that you’ve got a lifetime to shoot for. Sure, you’d like to see Rome before you die, but you’ve still got decades to go—so there’s no rush, right?
For Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman), however, those decades have suddenly been cut short. Though they thought they still had years and years ahead of them, both obnoxious billionaire Edward and brilliant mechanic Carter have been diagnosed with cancer.
As the two share a hospital room—and their experiences—they begin to build an unlikely friendship. And as Carter quietly battles his illness, he begins to write his bucket list—his list of all the things he wants to do once he gets his life back. But when he discovers that he’s fighting a losing battle, he gives up on the list. Edward, on the other hand, decides that there’s no time like the present. Instead of giving in, he decides to take his billions—and his new friend—and live life to the fullest in the time he’s got left.
Though the trailers for director Rob Reiner’s The Bucket List looked a little bit silly—and more than just a little bit sappy—it’s actually a surprisingly heartfelt film that’s guaranteed to make you laugh through your tears.
Really, there aren’t a whole lot of surprises here. After all, when it comes to Nicholson and Freeman, you pretty much know what you’re going to get. Nicholson is perfect for the role of the brash businessman (whose own penny-pinching policies come back to bite him in the butt). And when it comes to lovable, even-keeled old guys, they just don’t get much more lovable (or even-keeled) than Morgan Freeman. Together, the two make an unlikely pair—but their differences keep things interesting. Freeman keeps things from getting too over-the-top, while Nicholson lightens the mood. And Sean Hayes fits right in the middle as Edward’s dry but droll assistant, who accompanies the pair wherever they go. Though he caters to Edward’s every whim, he always does it with a sarcastic jab.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that The Bucket List is just another silly comedy. Often, it’s even painful to watch. Even if you haven’t had to watch a loved one struggle through cancer treatments, you’ll find it heart-breaking to watch Edward go from tough and demanding to pale and weak (and, well…still demanding). And while the movie does have its humorous moments, it’s best to have a box of tissues on hand—because the moving story is only made more powerful by its strong performances.
When it’s all over, you might not rush to make a bucket list of your own, but you’ll definitely come away wanting to make the most of every moment—because you never know how many of those moments you’ve got left.
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