Summary
- Running on Empty
aims to be a celebration of life amid uncertainty and has a stacked cast, but struggles with its scattered narrative and unclear direction. - The film successfully borrows from successful comedy-dramas, with quirky characters and a valiantly oddball effort at storytelling. It’s just too all over the place.
- Lucy Hale is excellent, but sadly her role is buried at the end.
As a seasoned cinema connoisseur with a heart full of nostalgia for the golden age of quirky romantic comedies, I found myself drawn to the enticing premise of ‘Running on Empty’. With its stacked cast and intriguing narrative, it promised to be a delightful addition to the genre. However, my cinematic journey with this film was as unpredictable as the characters’ death dates!
Would you prefer to know exactly when your death will occur, assuming there’s no way to change it, or would you rather not know? This question has likely fueled many discussions and served as a central theme in various films throughout the years, such as “Cléo from 5 to 7” and “Eternity and a Day.” The upcoming film “Running on Empty” (2024) can also be added to that list, even though it may not reach the same level of quality or significance as its predecessors. However, its impressive cast does manage to establish an intriguing base for the story from the outset.
As a movie enthusiast, I must say that the romantic comedy “From writer-director Daniel André” is an unconventional whirlwind of love, laughter, and quirkiness. It’s like a game of darts, aiming at the clichés of cinema romance, with some hitting bullseye and others missing the board entirely. Yet, its uniqueness and oddball charm are undeniably admirable in today’s cinematic landscape.
Running on Empty Wishes Keir Gilchrist an Unhappy Death Day
Let me briefly revisit the “predicting your death” movie theme. One of its subgenres is exemplified by the dramedy film “50/50” (2011), in which the main character, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, experiences a relationship rift with his girlfriend during his struggle with life-threatening cancer, eventually leading to their permanent separation. In “Running on Empty”, a similar situation arises for a millennial mortician named Mort (Keir Gilchrist) and his partner Nicole (Francesca Eastwood), when they decide to buy a house together but are required to undergo a futuristic test that predicts the exact date of their deaths – for insurance purposes. Unfortunately, Mort learns that his death is imminent within less than a year, causing Nicole to leave him in fear, leading to another heartbreaking breakup akin to the one in “50/50”. Ouch indeed.
It’s evident, if you haven’t guessed, that Lionsgate’s latest production seems to draw inspiration from or pay tribute to prior successful comedy-dramas to maintain its own appeal. This includes elements like minor roles for acclaimed character actors such as Rhys Coiro (from Entourage). In this film, he plays a character named Simon, a wannabe gangster and pimp, who significantly disrupts the protagonist’s life when Mort transitions to strip clubs and encounters sex workers in his post-divorce phase.
In my film enthusiast perspective, let me tell you this quirky twist: The one lady of the evening I develop feelings for, by an astonishing stroke of fate, has her impending demise just around the corner after our encounter with Mort. This sets off a rollercoaster ride across California’s San Fernando Valley, as I’m chased by her employers who believe I harmed her and demand retribution. Seeking solace amidst the chaos, I reach out to my humorous uncle Barry (played by Jim Gaffigan in his usual comedic brilliance) and my lively buddy Sid (brilliantly portrayed by Jay Pharoah, making every second count with his limited screen time). However, as time ticks away, I find myself turning to a professional dating service in hopes of finding genuine love before it’s too late.
Lucy Hale & Francesca Eastwood Deserve Better
Interestingly enough, it’s the one who manages that dating platform, a genuine and earthy woman named Kate (Lucy Hale), whom Mort unexpectedly feels attracted to. It’s rather peculiar and disheartening that this development occurs so late in the movie. We recently talked with Hale during the launch of her quirky romantic film, “Which Brings Me to You“, where she took on a more substantial role. Hale continues to captivate the screen, and it’s clear that “Running on Empty” aims, in essence, to be a tribute to life filled with constant unpredictability (or perhaps ironic certainty, given the time-limit aspect). Unfortunately, the message gets somewhat blurred during the journey.
Gilchrist appears strangely confined throughout, save for instances of excessive dramatization. His puzzled expression mirrors that of many viewers who find themselves perplexed by certain storylines that lead nowhere. It seems as though certain scenes, like the unexpected return of Nicole, are primarily included for comedic effect and then swiftly forgotten without further exploration. This humor fails to support the overall narrative.
The British-Canadian Gilchrist is certainly talented and has proven his chops via the hit Netflix series Atypical as well as acclaimed films like It Follows. He plays the confused stiff solidly enough here, but it often leaves us wanting more from the versatile performer. He indeed brings some heart and comedic timing, at least, but Running on Empty seems plagued by an unspoken resignation that this uneven ensemble is a bit all over the place. From Lionsgate, Running on Empty is now playing in theaters.
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2024-08-11 05:33