Steve Carell and Keira Knightley’s new drama will take you on a powerful ride

Keira Knightly and Steve Carell play two loners who are “Seeking a Friend for the
End of the World.”

A 70-mile wide asteroid is bound for Earth, sure to annihilate all of humankind, and revelry is setting in. Meaningless sex, rampant drug use and vicious riots have swept the globe — but Steve Carell’s character, Dodge, doesn’t want any part of it. Prompted by the asteroid news, his wife leaves him, rendering him glum and distant from the chaos around him. A chance meeting with his bubbly neighbor, Penny (Keira Knightley), leads them to embark on an adventure to find closure amidst impending doom. The duo’s pairing initially seems odd — they are pretty much polar opposites — but their connection strengthens as they encounter both new and familiar faces along their travels. You’ll believe in their stories, touched to be privy to the bond they create near the end of days.

We’ve seen Carell as the sullen, mild-mannered man before, but he continues to shine in the role. Knightley’s effervescence makes for a lovely foil.

This is the kind of movie that will linger in your mind long after its final powerful scene.