Does a film about 2 old codgers dying of cancer, with no sex, no eye candy and no brilliant CGI special effects have anything to offer youths?

This tearjerker has been critically reviewed by many, and opinions vary greatly, some liking it for its inspirational theme while others are slamming the film for not portraying the plight of cancer patients seriously enough.

The Storyline

A-list veteran actors Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby), with 4 Oscars nominations and 1 win, and Jack Nicholson (As Good As It Gets), with 12 Oscar nominations and 3 wins, star in the lead roles as Carter Chambers and Edward Cole respectively, with Freeman narrating the story, as he did in The Shawshank Redemption. Carter Chambers is a working-class mechanic who’s a dedicated family man, having spent the last 45 years of his life “greased up under the hood of a car” for his family’s sake. Edward Cole on the other hand, is an eccentric and cynical hospital tycoon billionaire, living his life lavishly with only the best money can buy.

The duo crosses paths for the first time when Edward is diagnosed with cancer and becomes ward-mates with Carter in his hospital.

Over time, they strike up an unlikely acquaintance as Carter, who has lung cancer and more experience than Edward with it, helps Edward pass his initial difficult days of chemotherapy with little tips and companionship.

While talking to each other, Carter reveals that he had always wanted to be a history professor and his ardent passion for the subject shows with him being practically a walking history textbook. However, he had to give his dreams up when his wife, then-girlfriend, got pregnant when he was still in college.

Being responsible, he dropped out and worked as a car mechanic instead, continuing the job for 45 more years to support his wife and bring up his 3 kids.

Carter meanwhile, is a workaholic who’s almost obsessed with money making and women. He’s been through 4 marriages, all of which failed because he couldn’t curb his womanising ways. Being rich and now single, he’s carefree and lives it up, enjoying nothing more than torturing his poor personal assistant Matthew (Sean Hayes), whom he calls Thomas instead, because he finds the name Matthew “too biblical”.

Except for their medical condition, the 2 truly share nothing in common. That is until they both receive their health reports, and a diagnosis of their remaining time. Before hearing about his report, Carter had began writing a “Bucket List”, which is basically a list of things to do before you, well, kick the bucket.
After discovering how little time he has left, he crushes the list up and throws it aside, realising the impossibility of fulfilling the tasks on the list.

As both are left with less than a year of their lives, Edward talks Carter into completing the “Bucket List” together when he reads Carter’s cast-aside list, promising to sponsor everything.

Knowing that it’s his last chance to live his life, Carter takes Edward up on his offer against his wife’s vehement protests.

Together they trot all over the globe, from France to Hong Kong, India to Africa, adding and taking items off the list after completion. They have good and crazy times with skydiving, vintage-car racing, sitting atop pyramids, safari visiting and even trying to see the Himalayas, something Carter has always longed to do.

Over frequent games of Gin Rummy, they bond and form a firm friendship, Edward finally reveals to Carter his love for his long-estranged daughter, who cut off ties with her father after he scared his abusive ex-son-in-law away. Edward also shows Carter that through it all, he does still love his wife. He returns home and in return for Edward’s help, tries to reunite him with his daughter. However, Edward is not ready to face his daughter and so gets angry at Carter’s untimely interference, storming off.

They don’t see each other again, until Edward is informed of Carter’s relapse. Edward visits him at the hospital and they put the past behind them. Before Carter dies on the operating table, he completes his last task on the “Bucket List” (laughing till he cried), and tells Edward to complete the rest of the list without him.

In respect for his friend and for his own happiness’ sake, Edward seeks out his daughter and makes peace. Instead of getting rebuked as he’d expected, she welcomes him back and even introduces him to the granddaughter he’s never known and met.

He lived to enjoy a few more years before Thomas (Matthew) makes the trip to the summit of the Himalayas to place Edward in his final resting place, in a Chock Full o’ Nuts can, next to Carter, who’s also in a same can.

The Verdict

Although The Bucket List has a predictable plot, it’s a touching film that teaches you that it’s never too late to start living, which is something so few of us really do.

While some may criticise it for not being accurate enough in the portrayal of the seriousness of the situation of cancer-stricken patients, and totally implausible that a billionaire will underwrite your extravagant last wishes, one must remember that the aim of the story isn’t to highlight what a cancer patient goes through, but that no matter how short live is, we owe it to ourselves to make the best of it.

If you’re looking to be motivated, or to have something to share with someone who is terminally ill, this is definitely a movie for you.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Movie Details

Opens: March 27

Running time: 97 mins

Language: English

Cast: Morgan Freeman, Jack Nicholson, Sean Hayes

Director: Rob Reiner