a contrived story that meant well - ****

Hugh Jackman was eyed to star in this film but he had to decline to be able to do the film Logan.  The producers thought of getting Johhny Depp until Overbrook Company  took over production and took on Will Smith to star in it as well.  The writer Allan Loeb had said that the idea of a depressed person due to death writing letters to the universe has been in his mind for so long that he was sure that it meant something. 

This is about a New York advertising executive trying to cope with the death of his daughter and how his three colleagues connived to save the company by proving his mental instability. It is also about how fate stepped in with the help of Death, Time and Love and tried to fix things for these four people.

I was so intrigued by this movie ever since I saw the trailer. I made a mental note to watch it when it came out.  Unfortunately I didn't have time to go to the theater when it finally did.  And so, now three months after, I am finally able to see it by renting it on iTunes. Really I am always concerned about what would the world say if it could talk.  Or what would abstract things look like when they are personified. The main character, Howard wrote letters to Death , Time and Love not knowing that they would one day come back to see him to reply to his letters.

Though this film did not quite turn out the way I think it would, to me it still sent the same  message despite taking on a course that the this movies trailer made me believe it would.  If that did not make sense to you, I can just say the trailer was a little misleading.   But I knew this movie would be somewhat heavy in feel and very serious in theme but there was nothing really remarkable about the way it was made except that, to me the two strongest points of this movie are script and casting. 

Though I have never been a fan of Will Smith, I know he has such a presence when he starts to speak and he probably gave his best in this film earning him a recognition by the NACCP Image Awards.  He is backed up by quite a strong ensemble cast led by Helen Mirren who is just delightful here as Death personified.  I like the sensitivity that Michael Pena gave to his role as one of the colleagues. Other cast members contributed in there own little way as well.

The script successfully strengthened the integrity of the characters who personified Death, Time and Love by saying things that really grab the essence of who they represent.  Like when Love said, something like love is present in the eyes of Howard's daughter it is also present in the tears that Howard sheds every time he thinks of her.  Or when Time told Howard that time is a gift and it is not for him to waste it. Or how the character Death reminds Howard that we as humans do not have control over death and that we should just accept.  On a certain level, we all know these things but to be able to hear it out of their mouths solidifies the truths that they stated.

Though the script was good the story to me felt too contrived that it was almost funny except that there was some doubt if they were really Death , Time and Love or are they were just actors pretending to be them.  Then it felt like there were too many coincidences going on that that makes you stop and think maybe they really are for no human could ever be that intelligent to be in the right place at the right time.  

Overall, I though this was a nice film although most movie critics will disagree with me. But I am glad I was finally able to watch and I am even thinking of watching it again.