Peter Falks's Geoffrey Griffin seems to believe that since he's dying of cancer, he has the right to be wacky, living as if he would die at any moment. By chance, he meets jill Clayburgh's Sarah Phoenix who has only a short time left to leukemia. They are unaware of each other's conditions, and it's only by accident that she discovers the truth. Up until then, she had been reluctant to have a romantic relationship while he wanted nothing more. Their natural love of humor was what brought them together in the first place, ironically at a night class on dying. It's only a matter of time before the pain starts, so their quality time is limited.
The mixture of comedy and tragedy will help make a sad story all the more watchable, but ultimately, it's not a film about dying. It's a films about living. He desperately wanted his ex-wife back, something that will make viewers question his sanity since she's a pretty awful woman, but it's Clayburgh who gives him the comfort he needs, and vice versa. They are definite soulmates, even though in earthly time it was for a short period. The film mixes joy and sadness, and never comes off forced with the two stars beautifully teamed together. Discussions of their fates are quite realistic, and if this film should be remembered for anything, it's the moral that dying isn't the scary part. Life as it leads towards death is what's frightening, that is if you don't live your best existence.
The mixture of comedy and tragedy will help make a sad story all the more watchable, but ultimately, it's not a film about dying. It's a films about living. He desperately wanted his ex-wife back, something that will make viewers question his sanity since she's a pretty awful woman, but it's Clayburgh who gives him the comfort he needs, and vice versa. They are definite soulmates, even though in earthly time it was for a short period. The film mixes joy and sadness, and never comes off forced with the two stars beautifully teamed together. Discussions of their fates are quite realistic, and if this film should be remembered for anything, it's the moral that dying isn't the scary part. Life as it leads towards death is what's frightening, that is if you don't live your best existence.