Sometimes life throws difficult decisions our way. However, writer-director David Freyne's newest film suggests death can present even tougher ones. That’s the situation Joan Cutler (Elizabeth Olsen) finds herself in after living a long and happy life before passing away. But what awaits her isn’t quite what she anticipated, given how unexpected eternity actually turns out to be. It seems that those who have died get to choose their preferred form of eternity, selected from an almost limitless range based on individual tastes. There are some conditions, though: newly arrived spirits only have a week to make their choice, and once they do, it’s permanent. Joan's experience is further complicated because two souls who passed before her have been waiting for her arrival, both wanting to join her in whatever form of eternity she chooses: her recently deceased husband of 65 years, Larry (Miles Teller), and her first love, her long-gone first husband, Luke (Callum Turner). Joan loves them both, a sentiment that Larry and Luke openly return. But how can she possibly make such a difficult selection? Her afterlife coordinator (AC) (John Early) attempts to assist, as does Larry’s AC (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), but their help is limited. The same applies to Larry and Luke, along with Joan's recently deceased best friend, Karen (Olga Merediz), though the ultimate decision rests with Joan. So, what will she ultimately decide? “Eternity” offers a compelling story about navigating challenging circumstances like these. It demonstrates that what many of us picture as an endless period of joy and peace can still involve difficulties similar to those we experienced in life, even if potential happiness awaits those who successfully overcome such tests of character. The movie brings to mind comparisons with earlier films exploring related themes, such as “Defending Your Life” (1991) and “What Dreams May Come” (1998). And it succeeds in keeping viewers engaged through its unexpected plot developments, inventive and surprisingly sharp humor, consistent narrative flow, and strong performances from the entire cast, particularly Randolph and Early in memorable supporting roles. It’s also enjoyable to watch a romantic comedy that avoids tired clichés and manipulative tropes common in this genre. It's refreshing to see an afterlife portrayed so realistically. One can only hope the real thing is similar.

Source on TMDB