REVIEW: ‘Eternity (2025)’ Is A Swoon-Worthy Rom-Com

How would you spend eternity? It’s a provocative question, one that has been pondered across philosophy and fiction alike. The aptly-titled Eternity (2025) explores this question through the lens of a romantic comedy. Directed by David Freyne and written by Freyne and Pat Cunnane, Eternity‘s cutesy spin on a huge philosophical question comes with a sickly sweet coat of paint that might not feel appropriate for the concept. Nevertheless, through engaging visual design, fully committed lead performances from Miles Teller and Elizabeth Olsen, and a sense of genuine feeling, Eternity‘s sweetness becomes infectious.

On their way to a gender reveal for their grandchild, the elderly Joan (Betty Buckley) and Larry Cutler (Barry Primus) reminisce about their long relationship. Unfortunately, a poorly swallowed pretzel ends up knocking out Larry, or so he thinks. Larry wakes up in a sort of purgatory as a younger version of himself (Miles Teller). In this strange, hotel-like space, Larry is greeted by his Afterlife Coordinator Anna (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who tells him he must pick a personalized “eternity” to spend eternity in. 

Eternity (2025) punches above its weight for an independent film.

The stubborn Larry decides to wait for Joan to join him here eventually. When she does, she’s a younger version of herself (Elizabeth Olsen), but there’s a complication. Her first husband, Luke (Callum Turner), who died in war, is here too. Knowing she can only pick one eternity, Joan struggles to pick between the relationship she grew old with and the one she never got to fully see through, while Luke and Larry fight for her affections. 

For an independent film distributed by A24, Eternity punches far above its weight class. The sprawling, artificial look of the purgatory most of the film is set in is ingenious. It’s a bright, sprawling location that looks almost like an advertisement yet also takes on the look of a pristine convention center or a well-maintained chain hotel.

Cinematographer Ruairí O’Brien makes some serious eye candy out of the bountiful production design, with the lovely look supplemented by all manner of sight gags like overzealous advertisements for eternities or, better yet, shut-down eternities that are no longer considered appropriate.

Miles Teller and Elizabeth Olsen bring stardom to Eternity.

Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick) and Elizabeth Olsen (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) do a whole lot to ground this ridiculous world. On a comedy level, it’s fun to see these actors with prominent movie star looks embody elderly mannerisms. Moreover, Teller brings a dollop of comedy when he gets jealous of Joan’s dormant feelings for Luke.

Beyond that, Teller knows how to sell the heartbreak of discovering someone with whom he’s built a lifelong connection is on the verge of choosing eternal life without him. Olsen is even better as a woman forced to make the choice between that potent connection and what could have been.

If there is a severe flaw in Eternity‘s dynamics, it’s that Callum Turner isn’t up to the level of his co-stars. The Masters of the Air star has proven himself to be a good actor, but in this role, other than his dashing good looks, he never feels like an appealing romantic option for Joan. In tandem with a script that fails to really sell him, one never gets the sense of what Joan sees in Luke at all. If anything, he feels cold, mechanical, and non-descript, making the love triangle a bit lopsided.

Eternity’s script is what really ties anything together.

An aspect where the movie does not falter is its wonderful, prominent co-stars. Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers) and John Early, as two battling Afterlife Coordinators, provide an intensely fun dynamic that delivers most of the movie’s laughs. Yet, like Larry and Joan, there’s a real, genuine care there, in this case for the people they’re helping find their perfect afterlife, that it gives their characters, and Eternity as a whole, some real weight. 

Eternity‘s script is what really ties anything together. Other than the brilliant premise, Eternity looks at what’s really valuable in a partnership. Whether that means letting your own desires go to make your partner happy or looking back at your memories and truly examining what’s meaningful to you, there is some earnest insight here that you just don’t get in a lot of romantic comedies. The ending absolutely sticks the landing, bringing out the tears without feeling forced in the slightest. 

Eternity might falter in its central love triangle storyline. What it does well, in terms of a thoughtful script, two magnificent lead performances, and fun visuals, is enough to make it easy to recommend. It’s an affirmation of what true love looks like, and that’s something the romantic in each viewer may very well be susceptible to.

Eternity is in theaters everywhere November 26th.