Seeking a Friend For The End of the World is a cool film with a really long title. The length of said title automatically suggests a film at odds with its trailer. The previews hint at a wacky comedy that includes a Bacchanal party where anything (drugs, sex) goes as well as a restaurant (Friendsies) that serves 24-hour, ah, friendliness.

Aside from those two scenes SAFFTEOTW unwinds with less than a serene mood, and often times touches on sadness and regret. With a sense of saving grace the movie ends on a note of supreme romanticism that lifts the spirits of the viewer even as the director destroys that same world of love in a cataclysmic flash of light. Canadian director Don McKellar meshed these conflicting ideals with greater finesse in Last Night (1998) another end of the world flick that replaced the sci-fi of Deep Impact with indie film ruminations and feelings.

Seeking a Friend For The End of the World’s writer/director Lorene Scafaria previously penned Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, an okay night romp through Gotham that wanted to be a road movie. Seeking a Friend For The End of the World finally has Scafaria embarking on that road movie, while adding a great retro soundtrack. Seeking a Friend For The End of the World may be too lofty and mellow for the Joe Popcorn crowd but makes a perfect fit for discerning moviegoers.

- Michael Bergeron