Movie Review - The Bucket List

Movie Review - The Bucket List

Starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Directed by Rob Reiner.

Rated PG-13 for language including a sexual reference. Running Time of 1 hour and 37 minutes.

The Bucket List had great beginnings if only because the two lead actors are both amazing at what they do. The only problem I saw was the director Rob Reiner. I don't happen to be a fan of his flicks which he steadily puts out year after year, but has yet to have a #1 in the past 15 years. The Bucket List fixed that problem by debuting at #1 but its not because of him, it's all because, just like me, everybody wanted to see Jack and Morgan act opposite each other. That was at least entertaining.

The Bucket List is about two old men from different backgrounds that get put into the same room at a hospital. One is very wealthy and actually owns the hospital while the other is very smart but working as a mechanic to pay the bills for his family. The two men don't get along at first but soon start to find comfort in each other. They both are diagnosed with serious diseases and find themselves faced with knowing they will be gone within a year. The two make a pact to do a 'bucket list.' The Bucket List is a list of things they want to do before they 'kick the bucket.' They set out on this adventure and find themselves having the best time of their lives while also facing up to the hard hitting issues of leaving their family behind.

As I said before, the two leads make the most of the somewhat ridiculously cliche'd script and pull some genuine emotion from it, but overall the director and the script pull this flick down from its lofty heights that the two commanding actors try to lift it to.

From skydiving to the pyramids and back at the hospital. Nicholson and Freeman do lots of talking and not much else except for the occasional skydive or racing scene which both last less then 5 minutes. It isn't boring, just more of the same theatrics with more accomplished actors. You'll find yourself interested in the guy's stories, but you'll start to get tired of the story. There's nothing here to hate but nothing here to get attached to.

I would recommend watching the flick just to see the two guys bouncing lines off of each other. It's fun to watch for that reason, but you probably won't be coming back for a repeat viewing.

The Bucket List is playing at Cinema 3 in McCook with showtimes available at www.fridleytheatres.com.