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The Bucket List (2007)

Director: Rob Reiner

Time Out rating

Average user rating

9 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Jack Nicholson is a billionaire playboy with a playful sense of humour, a short fuse and a sarcastic turn of phrase. Morgan Freeman is a blue-collar worker with a responsible work ethic, inherent wisdom, a talent for stating the obvious and a burning desire to narrate everything he does. Both are dying of cancer.

Forced to share a hospital room, wealthy Edward (Nicholson) is gradually and grudgingly won over by the gentler, more down-to-earth Carter Chambers (Freeman), who he decides must live a little before his time is up. Whisking him away from the hospital and his horribly one-dimensional nagging wife, Edward takes Carter on the trip of a lifetime.

The big idea is to tick every box on a ‘bucket list’ – ie everything you want to do before you die. This involves skydiving and swanky hotels, which puts Carter in grateful awe of how the other half lives. Tensions arise when both try to interfere with each other’s family relationships, but this doesn’t get in the way of a tearful ending.

The conclusion is moving enough, but it’s no thanks to Freeman’s now obligatory sentimental narration. Nicholson may be funny, but with its dumbed-down script, this is less a comedy, more a melodrama for morons.

Author: Anna Smith

Time Out London Issue 1956 Feb 13-19 2008

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User reviews of this film

Les Molloy said...

Posted on Apr 20 2008 16:33 The film has just opened, where I am, and I must admit I am puzzled at the reviews listed in Time Out London. Prior to seeing the film I read the synopsis and wasn't expecting Bergman's "Seventh Seal". Quite why Time Out's reviewer, Ana Smith, concluded it was a "melodrama for morons" implies, to me, she was the wrong person, or in the wrong frame of mind, to see such a film. The Bucket List, for us, was heart warming, and on occasions, made me think hard about life. What's wrong with that? For me any film which stirs any of my emotions is okay by me!

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Victor said...

Posted on Mar 11 2008 18:06 It was only worth watching because I have a CineWOrld unlimited card, and I was in Glasgow under a rainstorm... The cinema was warm and dry... the movie silly and boring....

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jesi said...

Posted on Feb 29 2008 18:58 this film didnt capture the whole of my attention from start to finish and i got fidgety in my seat just waiting for it to finish!

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Tom McMaster said...

Posted on Feb 21 2008 16:32 A REAL FEEL GOOD MOVIE, WITH EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES FROM JACK NICHOLSON AND MORGAN FREEMAN

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Kath said...

Posted on Feb 20 2008 08:47 This is a wonderful film. My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end and most of the audience were laughing out loud which in Aberdeen is the sign of enjoyment. Nicholson and Freeman are a delight to watch and the dialogue between the two of them is great.

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Rachael said...

Posted on Feb 19 2008 12:57 This film smacked of made-for-tv nonsense. Take out Nicholson and Freeman and theres not much else worth seeing.

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Brads Mum said...

Posted on Feb 19 2008 12:04 this film sucks eggs!

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myles howson said...

Posted on Feb 19 2008 12:04 This is a shite film. It does not apeal to either the older or younger generations! I think it sucks!!

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Paul C said...

Posted on Feb 17 2008 14:28 This is a dumb film and little to recommend it, a waste of ticket money. Not sure if this is supposed to appeal to younger or older audiences, but fails to deliiver insights to either generation. Their visits to each country fails to give more than a tourist view of the sights, and really made me wonder what was the point of going to these countries for such a glib experience. Ignore this fiilm.

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