Eternity TIFF Review: Elizabeth Olsen Struggles To Choose Her Afterlife In Hilarious But Underwritten Rom-Com

Eternity Review: Elizabeth Olsen Struggles To Choose Her Afterlife In Hilarious But Underwritten Rom-Com Miles Teller looking on as Callum Turner holds Elizabeth Olsen's hand to his chest in Eternity 2025 By  Mae Abdulbaki Updated  34 minutes ago Mae is the Senior Reviews Editor and Critic at ScreenRant. Her previous work can be found at Inverse, Pajiba, CinemaBlend, The Mary Sue, Looper, and more. She has also served as a film festival juror at SXSW, LightReel Film Festival, and more. She is a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Washington, DC Area Film Critics Association.  Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Eternity takes the love triangle to the afterlife as it sows discord among its three main characters. Directed by David Freyne from a screenplay by him and Patrick Cunnane, the romantic comedy takes a well-worn trope and breathes some new energy into it. This is a situation where the audience will be rooting for one couple over the other, while perhaps being frustrated with how long the romantic competition goes on before finally moving on.

It’s a genuinely funny film, though it’s only truly romantic in parts. The cast has fantastic chemistry together and, though the story could’ve explored its point further, Eternity is a largely entertaining rom-com that works best when it leans on the strengths of its cast rather than its narrative, which frustratingly tries to change the outcome to its premise a few times before settling into its point.

There’s never a dull moment as Eternity mines the comedy and cast chemistry for all it’s worth.

The film follows Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) and Larry (Miles Teller), who’ve been married for 65 years and who die a week apart from each other. Larry goes first, meeting Anna (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) in the afterlife, which functions like a tourist convention of people convincing the newly deceased of which eternity they should choose. Once chosen, they can’t go back or risk entering the void.

Larry is convinced that he and Joan, having spent the majority of their lives together, will do the same in their eternity. But when she dies and reunites with her first husband, Luke (Callum Turner), a soldier killed in action in the early days of their marriage, Joan is faced with the choice to live out her days with Larry, or the man she barely got to live with in life.

Eternity Will Have You Laughing Out Loud

But There Are Parts Of The Story That Don’t Quite Work

Da'Vine Joy Randolph in Eternity looking dubious 

There’s never a dull moment as Eternity mines the comedy and cast chemistry for all it’s worth. It’s the fuel that keeps the film going, even as its plot grows tired during Luke and Larry’s lengthy “choose me” phase. Miles Teller is a particular standout. His scenes with Da’Vine Joy Randolph are a highlight. They’re fun together, and their energy just bleeds through the screen. John Early also shines in the moments he’s given. He and Rudolph are quite the pair once they get going.

The film picks things up when Joan lands in the afterlife, which is overwhelming and where the rules are never questioned. This is when Callum Turner really dials up the charm and the heart eyes. Compared to Larry, though, Luke isn’t as well-developed, likely because he died young and never really got to live a full life. And yet, we can see why Joan was so in love with Luke. The looks between them are electric. He waits for Joan for 67 years; she’s such a strong memory that she turns into a bit of a fantasy as well, a what-if scenario that is echoed by Joan.

Elizabeth Olsen has chemistry with both actors and, though her character is somewhat underwritten because the film is so focused on the competition between her husbands. She’s excellent on her own, bringing emotion and humor to a role that doesn’t fully get fleshed out until the final third of the film. As Joan struggles to make a decision, I wondered why it had to be made at all. Within Eternity is the potential for a better story, one where the characters question their new circumstances more closely.

It doesn’t help that the rom-com is so heavily focused on the comedy — which is indeed fantastic and one of the best reasons to watch the film — that it forgets to settle into its heartfelt moments. Larry sums it up best when he says that he’s not very deep; they just told him the rules and he didn’t bother to look beyond them. Three different endings undermine Joan’s first decision that, had we gotten more insight into her character, could have been better.

Eternity isn’t a bad rom-com; it’s charming and wildly entertaining for the most part, but by skirting a conventional narrative to be more creative, the story loses some of its effectiveness in the process.

Eternity premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. It will be released in theaters on November 26.

Note: This review was originally published on September 8th, 2025.

6/10

Eternity

Like Follow Followed PG-13 Romance Comedy Release Date November 26, 2025 Runtime 112 minutes Director David Freyne Writers David Freyne, Pat Cunnane Producers Elizabeth Olsen, Michael Williams, Miles Teller, Tim White

Cast

See All

• Elizabeth Olsen Joan
• Miles Teller Larry

Genres Romance, Comedy Expand Collapse

• Eternity
• Toronto International Film Festival

Follow Followed Like Share Facebook X WhatsApp Threads Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Flipboard Copy link Email Close Thread Sign in to your ScreenRant account

We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.

Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.

Your comment has not been saved

Send confirmation email

This thread is open for discussion.

Be the first to post your thoughts.

• Terms
• Privacy
• Feedback

Recommended Sep 10, 2025

The Conjuring: Last Rites Doesn't Do Justice To Part Of The True Story

Sep 10, 2025

Star Wars' Canceled TV Show Revealed A Side Of The Jedi George Lucas Forgot

Sep 10, 2025

The First Look At Super Mario Bros. 2 Could Be Days Away

Sep 10, 2025

Taylor Sheridan's Western Thriller Becomes Instant Netflix Global Hit

More from our brands

The 55 Saddest Movies That Will Break Your Heart

The 59 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now

Everything We Know About Final Destination: Bloodlines

The 56 Best Shows on Amazon Prime Video Right Now

Callum Turner & Miles Teller Fight for Elizabeth Olsen in Supernatural Scarlet Witch Replacement Movie Trailer

45 Romance Movies That Will Break Fans' Hearts

Nosferatu: Ellen’s Dark Connection to the Vampire Has a Deeper Meaning

Trending Now Bel-Air Season 4's Surprise Cast Exit Explained By Showrunner Wednesday Season 3 Casts Aunt Ophelia With James Bond Alum After Season 2 Cliffhanger Appearance I’m Worried Mike Flanagan’s Exorcist Reboot Will Get It Wrong (Again)