My Review of the Bucket List

Directed by Rob Reiner and starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, the tale of two men who are expected to die within the next year, finding life for the first time is quite the emotional celebration. It might appeal to the older generation more so than a teenager, but I think The Bucket List will be great fun for all ages. You might even call it a family film. It is that warm and fuzzy.

What is The Bucket List about?

Edward Cole (Nicholson) is one of these two men. He is the rich head of a hospital corporation. When we first meet Edward, he is in a courtroom, trying to back up his claim that there should be only two beds to a hospital recovery room. Then, Edward coughs up some blood and collapses just before he is about state his piece.

Then we meet Carter Chambers (Freeman), an auto mechanic who just found out that he has cancer. He smokes. This is about the only clinical explanation we get for the cancer in either of these men. But that is beside the point. What matters in this movie is how these two deal with their illness. When Carter Chambers meets Edward Cole, he's introduced into a world of insult and political incorrectness. Unfortunately, both of these men have to share the same room. The hospital is one of Mr. Cole's hospitals. After all, only two beds to a room, right?

After a while, the men have gotten to know each other and have steadily become the best of friends. Then when the doctor announces how much time they have, both Cole and Chambers set out on a wild, fun and funny adventure to embrace what little time they have left.

My thoughts

The Bucket List isn't perfect. There are clear intentions made in this movie. There are elements of the movie that are unoriginal. But when the actors sell what's happening before our eyes as well as Freeman and Nicholson do in The Bucket List, who cares about those minor faults?

Critics will scoff. They will tell you that it is pure Hollywood camp. It's not supposed to be art. What makes The Bucket List special is that it's entertainment, great entertainment. I haven't seen a Rob Reiner film I've enjoyed this much in a long time. You might say the man has been in hiding since he directed Jack in A Few Good Men. But he's come back with all the charm and grace his films once had.

Final word

Embrace The Bucket List before its time in theaters is over.