Stephanie Sarnoff

I read the first dozen reviews and its no surprise that every single one of them had something negative to say. I suspect that the whole thing is scripted, portrayed to look spontaneous, and indeed , the individuals seem genuine and real. But are they simply good actors? The matches made are ridiculously inept. So if this is "real", the so-called "experts" are immenselyy unable to make appropriate selections and matches. The concept is great entertainment, however, so if one takes the show as such, sit back and enjoy. But be assured, there will be abundant conflicts and mis-matches in each season. And if its not pre-planned, with paid performers, then I pity the people who are selected, they're in for a rough ride. Lucky are the few who make it through successfully. Ho hum...

MY TAKE: I have to confess, with some degree of embarrassment, that I loved this film. Why! Because, I suppose, it isn't just a “disaster film”, and also, possibly, because it is. Let me explain. There are multiple themes going on: of divorce and reunification; of parental love; of how important our loved ones are to each other. I also thought the acting was pretty darn great. It must have taken every ounce of energy, over a prolonged time, to accomplish their performances.   Further, I was intrigued by the imagined handling of a disaster by the government. E.G., our star is contacted through his phone and on his t.v., informing him that he has been selected for his skills set to be among the survivors of the impending apocalypse, whereupon he is directed to leave immediately for the nearby air force base and evacuation to Greenland. How cool is that?   Sure, the plot is predictable, and we all know that our hero and his family are going to survive by the end of the flick. That's what makes his trials and tribulations bearable, while we sit in comfort , munching our hot buttered popcorn.   The arc of the story is, of course, typical, from everything being normal, to a slow building of concern and tension, and on to a desperate journey seeking refuge, with many setbacks and challenges along the way. We know all this before it begins. But its how they do it, that's so cool ! This flick treats you to orange flaming, boulder studded skies, a desperate neighbor begging to take their child to safety, (You'll have to see the movie to find out what happened !), how to cope with the life threatening diabetes , and on...I won't spoil EVERYTHING for you ! (Sound like fun? Maybe not for everyone.)   If there's anything that tests your willingness to suspend disbelief, set it aside and enjoy the ride ! Appreciate the fine filming, the music and editing. And be sure to be well rested before you see this one, or you'll surely come away exhausted.   How normal people behave in life threatening situations is, in itself, one of the more captivating aspects of this story. How far would you go, to survive? How thin is the veneer of civilization that we always assume will be the norm?   There's hardly a moment in this movie to take a breath and catch some rest. And perhaps we won't experience a devastating, worldwide hit from a comet, but it does get one thinking, what could happen , and what could and would our governments do about it, and how would we attempt to survive life threatening situations beyond our control. All in all, if you like this genre, I think you'll find this movie well done, entertaining, as well as thought provoking. One can always point out flaws, but why not focus on the rest, which is pretty darn good.