Running on Empty

No pun intended - damn, I don't know where that came from. But it is so fitting for the movie ... and you may even think it is way better than the movie or what it deserves. But I like the movie and its weird idea with people knowing when their about to ... "move on" ... now does it make sense internally speaking? Mostly no - you have to suspend your disbelief ... a lot.

So if you are able to do that ... go on and enjoy the show. I think it is obvious that the actors had a lot of fun - again with no sense and nothing really connecting ... take the woman at the bar ... she had to know ... that it didn't make sense to go out with our main character ... for multiple reasons.

You could say she planned or staged it ... but even that is paper thin and does not work. But again, just don't mind the stuff that is not working and concentrate on the fun you can have ... running on funny ...

This movie is kind of confusing in its tone and presentation. It truly seems like the work of amateurs; perhaps a film school project.

The cast seems to consist of first-time actors, led by a completely charmless main character, and I would've dismissed it completely after the first disheartening 10 minutes, if not for the puzzling presence of names like Monica Potter, Lucy Hale, Jim Gaffigan and Rhys Coiro.

Did they owe money or favors to the producers?

The script is a mess, the dialogue clumsy, scenes are long and ambling and poorly edited. The entire pacing of both individual scenes and the movie as a whole seems off. It tries to come off as a sort of quirky unpredictable dark comedy, but it's neither funny nor original, and completely devoid of any charm.

According to IMDb this is the director's feature debut, and honestly: that doesn't surprise me one bit.

The movie had a truly unique hook that was utterly squandered by bizarre plots that get in the way of where this movie should have gone.

Taking place in the near future, Keir Gilchrist plays Mort. A mortician who is on his way with a fiancee (Francesca Estwood) to the middle class life. But in this world "science" can calculate your death date. Too bad for Mort he only has 300 or so days left. Immediately his fiancée leaves him and he is left stunned and hurting.

Unfortunately this is where the story goes off the rocker. Mort meets a prostitute who dies but her pimp keeps coming after Mort for the money... for the entire movie? OMG I never thought it would end. I can't figure out if that was studio interference or if two scripts were spliced together.

Eventually Mort meets the love of his life with Kate (Lucy Hale) and that is where this movie should have spent the majority of its time. Alas Lucy Hale is only a small part of this movie.. far too late.

Don't pass this sweet little film by. It's got lots of life. You'll see that while watching the movie. What would you do if you knew your death date. Would you choose to be sad, mad or just cry everyday. We have that choice everyday - what are you going to do with the rest of your life. Before you decide that watch this film for directions. A++

What a gem of a directorial debut by Daniel André! From the shot section to the soundtrack, each choice seems on purpose. Its a bright gray comedy that is dark but not depressing, light yet realistic. All in all, it's a film that only leaves me wanting in the category of what will André do next? Rated higher for exposure.