The Bucket List is a bit of an odd bird. It was advertised as a serio-comedy that stressed the importance of living life to its fullest before you die. This movie came out about the same time as As Good As It Gets and Something's Gotta Give, which I'll call Jack Nicholson's comedy period. It seems the producers wanted to cash in on Nicholson's comedic stylings which were quite successful. But in the tradition of good movies, this has something more up its sleeve.
For those of you who don't know, Jack plays Edward, a very wealthy investor who owns hospitals. He has been successful because he promotes efficiency over all else, highlighted in his mantra, "Two beds to a room. No exceptions." He becomes sick and is put into a room with Carter (Morgan Freeman), who has also been diagnosed with inoperable cancer. The two strike up a friendship due to proximity, and one day Edward notices Carter is writing his bucket list, ie things to do before he kicks the bucket. Edward thinks this is a fantastic idea and takes them on a globe trotting adventure to see the world. Along the way, Carter realizes how much he misses his family and that Edward is estranged from his. The movie takes a sudden left turn into discussing what is really important in life. I don't want to give it away, but suffice to say it is a rumination on things left done and undone in life. It asks the question, if you were to know the exact date of your death, how would you feel about the course your life took? Would you change anything what would that be? What would you cherish? What is the worth of your life and how is that worth measured?
While it starts off a tad depressing, it gets pretty funny quickly. But as I said, this movie, despite its promises, is not a comedy, but a serious look into the meaning of life in the face of death. If any takeaways can be had, it's this: 1.) Live life to its fullest every day, since we don't know when we'll die, and 2.). Learn to appreciate the small things. It's fine and well to experience new things and people, but never forget that it's those closest to you, friends and family, that ultimately make life worth living. You can fill it with distractions and things, but what will they matter if you are staring the great unknown dead in the face, all alone. It is a frightening prospect. Those you love will be the ones to face it with you, and the experiences you had with them are the most important yardstick with which to measure the worth of your life. Get busy living, because ultimately, we're already dying.
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