The Bucket List is a mash-up of star power, comedy, and pathos. Unfortunately, it takes broad swipes and connects mostly with empty air. Judging by the crowded theater I saw this in, I was in the minority. There is no denying that the film contains laughs, tugs at the heartstrings, and definitely benefits from strong chemistry between the two leads. Seriously, how can you go completely wrong when you have Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman? With two of the finest actors to ever grace the screen, you are bound to have something watchable. It is just a shame that the plot of the movie fails to live up to what the leads are able to provide.
The story concerns two older men, Edward Cole and Carter Chambers (Nicholson and Freeman), who bond over their shared fate of cancer, destined to cut their lives short. What follows is a fairy tale as we follow them on a journey across the world, attempting to fulfill all of the items written on their mutual bucket list (a list of things to do prior to kicking the bucket, get it?). So, off they go, jet-setting around the globe doing all the things they never got around to — you know, skydiving, racing muscle cars, visiting the Taj Mahal, seeing the Himalayas, and assorted other things.
Oh yes, introductions should be made. If you have seen the ads (and who hasn't), you will know that these two could not be more different if they tried. Cole is a self-centered hospital administrator who has spent his life making money at the cost of his humanity, while Carter is a family man who has made a living as a mechanic and seems to be filled with knowledge on just about everything plus the added weight of lifelong regrets. While their relationship may start off a little rocky, they quickly begin to see the other side of the coin, what their lives have been missing, in each other.
The Bucket List does offer some laughs, which I believe has everything to do with the skills of the actors as opposed to the quality of the script. The same can be said for the more heartwarming moments. The problems lie in the overall content and structure of the film. There is nothing special to the film; it is completely reliant on the power of the stars.
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