A24’s latest romantic comedy (this time, with a touch of fantasy), Eternity, had its premiere at TIFF last night at the Roy Thompson Hall, with the film’s cast in attendance. The David Freyne-directed flick explores the emotional journey of one woman who must make a tough decision about who to spend eternity with in the afterlife.
Elizabeth Olsen stars as Joan, an older woman who passes away from cancer shortly after her husband Larry, played by Miles Teller, has a freak choking accident. While the two have been married for over 67 years and have built a lovely life filled with kids and grandkids, you’d think the decision would be obvious, right? Well, we’re here to tell you that isn’t the case, as Joan’s wildly handsome first husband, Luke (Callum Turner), is at the Junction, and has been waiting for her to cross over (that’s kind of crazy to say), for those 67 years.
Things get complicated when the sparks fly when Joan sees Luke, as he was killed in a war during the peak of their youth, so they never got to experience a long life as partners. To add to the moment, both Luke and Larry are paired with quirky afterlife coordinators (played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph and John Early) who add humor and existential commentary that gets many laughs throughout the film.
While the trio as actors work as a whole, they each offer something different. Olsen anchors the film as she displays vulnerability and poise, yet convincingly shows how she is affected by grief and anxiety that comes with trying to make the right decision. Teller brings warmth and steady devotion to not give up on the love of his life, yet also a sense of regret as he wonders if being her current husband is even enough to compete with her past before him. It is Teller who is the standout as he gives such a caring and emotional performance opposite two talented actors.
Even though many might argue that Turner is the perfect dreamboat to complicate things between Teller and Olsen (I love the running joke of pointing out how much more attractive Luke is than Larry), it’s also true that he didn’t contribute any unique personality trait to the role, therefore any attractive male actor of this generation could have been swapped out and the film would be the same (why does Austin Butler come to mind?).
What truly works for the film is the writing and cinematography, which really catch your attention every chance they get. The script keeps a steady flow and throws us right into the plot without too much fluff in the beginning. The ending alone deserves all its flowers, as the twist was not something I paid attention to at all, so I was pleased when I was caught off guard.
The setting of the junction and the funny “Easter eggs” that linger in the background are standouts, and the scenes where Joan gets the chance to revisit memories are perhaps one of the best pieces of this road trip to discovering what took place in her past with each of these men.
All in all, Eternity is a fun emotional trip and works well as a romantic comedy, something we’ve long been missing in Hollywood for some years now. It revives a genre that we know and love, introducing newer audiences to older classics with similar concepts (Robin Williams’ What Dreams May Come and Meryl Streep and Albert Brooks’ Defending Your Life). It’s a beautiful depiction of what true love means, in every form of the word. The lovable cast will have you captivated and smiling from ear to ear the entire time. It seems A24 has mastered the art of storytelling in the romance category, and I hope they double down on that and keep churning these out.
Eternity (Rating: 4/5)
Studio: A24
Release date: November 26, 2025
Director: David Freyne
Screenwriters: Patrick Cunnane, David Freyne
Cast: Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, John Early, Barry Primus, Betty Buckley
Rating: PG-13
Running time: 1 hr 52 mins