A new romantic comedy hitting UK cinemas this week is set to provide more than just a few laughs. 'Eternity', starring Elizabeth Olsen and Miles Teller, is a high-concept film that uses a celestial premise to explore a very earthly love triangle, with results that are as thought-provoking as they are charming.
The Afterlife's Ultimate Dilemma
The film, directed by David Freyne, introduces us to Larry and Joan as an elderly, bickering couple. After Larry chokes on a pretzel and dies, he finds himself in 'The Junction' – a drab afterlife waiting room resembling a subpar hotel. Here, a now youthfully restored Larry, played by Miles Teller, has one week to choose his eternity from a series of trade stalls offering options like 'Sunset Eternity' or 'Naturist World'.
The crucial rule, enforced by his grumpy Afterlife Co-ordinator (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), is that the choice is final and eternal. Larry's priority is simple: he wants to be wherever Joan is. The plot thickens when Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) arrives, also restored to her happiest self. A devastating revelation emerges: her happiest moment wasn't with Larry, but with her first husband, Luke (Callum Turner), who died in the Korean War and has been waiting for her for 67 years.
A Love Triangle For The Ages
The core of the film becomes a poignant emotional tug-of-war. Should Joan choose the dream life stolen from her by war, embodied by her dashing first love, or the comfortable, decades-long partnership she built with Larry? The film cleverly subverts expectations, ensuring the answer is never obvious.
The performances are a significant strength. Olsen and Teller brilliantly convey the mannerisms of older souls in younger bodies, with Olsen's portrayal of Joan's agonising choice being particularly moving. The film invites comparisons to golden-age Hollywood, with Turner's character likened to Montgomery Clift and Teller's current resemblance to Rock Hudson noted.
Final Verdict: More Than Just a Confection
While recalling the high-concept ingenuity of films like 'The Truman Show', 'Eternity' remains rooted in a classic romantic dilemma. The screenplay by David Freyne and Pat Cunnane delivers clever, sweet moments underpinned by a stream of sadness, keeping the audience guessing through several false endings.
Although the final payoff may not satisfy everyone, the film's true success lies in its ability to provoke conversation. Released in UK cinemas from December 5, 2025, this is a date night movie that might just lead to a deep debate about love, regret, and choice on the journey home – for better or for worse.
