BY CHRISTOPHER STAMM
GUEST MOVIE REVIEWER
The Bucket List (Streaming on Netflix and other services)
Rated PG-13 – For language and adult themes
Well, adulting got in the way of hitting the cinema for you good folks this week, so once again, lets hop into the way-back machine for an oldie but a goodie.
The Bucket List may not be one you sought out back when it came out in 2007. It’s a film about two men with terminal cancer. So, ya, I know–not exactly family fun night at the movies. But this one will surprise you.
Starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two mismatched men who meet while going through chemotherapy, the two become the very best of friends and decide to pursue their respective “bucket lists” rather than sit and wait for their inevitable outcomes.
I have to tell you, this movie is excellent. It mixes just the right amount of drama and comedy, as these two men go down their list–from skydiving to racing cars, and no, not all of their list is superficial, but as always, I do not want to give too much away.
We all owe life a death, and the measure of a person is how they face that inevitability. And these men face that one last life event with grace, courage, and not a small amount of humor.
As always, Freeman and Nicholson are outstanding in their roles, but the supporting cast also does a fine job, particularly Sean Hayes as Nicholson’s assistant, Thomas, who, through his snark, you can see has a genuine love for his boss.
Four out of five stars for The Bucket List. Do not fear the subject matter. This is one that deserves to be seen. And when it is over, you can ask yourself: “Have I found joy in my life?” And … “Has my life brought joy to others?”